FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) – Nomar Garciaparra settled into the familiar redwood picnic bench where he makes his annual remarks upon arriving at spring training.

“The seat still fits,” he said with a smile. “Can you believe after these three months I’m still here?”

Strange, but true.

He figured he would be traded when the Red Sox closed in on a deal that would have brought another star shortstop, Alex Rodriguez, to Boston, for left fielder Manny Ramirez. Boston was prepared to send Garciaparra to the Chicago White Sox.

On Tuesday, about 60 media members made an arc around Garciaparra’s bench.

Was he angry? Could he remain loyal to a team that tried to get rid of him? Would he return once his contract expires after the 2004 season?

“I was definitely hurt by a lot of it. I probably feel like anyone else would feel after spending their whole career in one organization,” then learning on television that his employer wanted to send him away, Garciaparra said.

More than two months after trade talks for Rodriguez began, the players’ union said in late December that Boston’s proposal to restructure his contract would lower its value. That trade was off and so was one that would have sent Garciaparra to Chicago for outfielder Magglio Ordonez.

Then, last week, Texas traded Rodriguez to the New York Yankees.

While Boston was talking with the Rangers, Garciaparra said he wanted to stay in Boston.

He reiterated Tuesday that he wants to finish his career with the Red Sox.

But after his offseason uncertainty and his chance to become a free agent after the coming season, he doesn’t know what will happen.

“I’d definitely be disappointed” to leave the Red Sox, he said, “but obviously that was a reality. I was gone. Basically, I was gone. So I dealt with that already because, as far as I was concerned, I was traded.”

He doesn’t expect that to affect his performance this season. Boston pitcher Pedro Martinez said Tuesday he doesn’t expect Garciaparra or Ramirez to be sidetracked by the efforts to trade him.

“Nomar’s very professional,” Martinez said. “He understands the business part of it. I’d be upset if I wasn’t told the fact that I was going to be in trade talks.”

Garciaparra did not address the fact that Boston’s primary goal was to unload Ramirez and his $20 million salary and that trading Garciaparra would become necessary to open a spot for Rodriguez.

“There were probably some hurt feelings at the time and some abrasions but we’ve moved beyond that,” general manager Theo Epstein said. “I guarantee you the sole focus of Nomar Garciaparra is winning a World Series.”

Garciaparra smiled and laughed throughout his news conference and even joked when asked if it would help the Red Sox to re-sign him if team officials sent a dozen roses to his wife, soccer star Mia Hamm.

“She’s already getting them every day from me, so she’s all right,” Garciaparra said.

He’s entering his ninth major-league season, all with Boston, with a .323 batting average and two AL batting titles.

He said talks have been held regarding his future with the team and said he wouldn’t be opposed to them continuing during the season.

The two sides didn’t agree on an extension last spring training and Garciaparra said the club wanted to wait until after the season to resume talks.

At that time, they lowered their offer to Garciaparra while they tried to obtain Rodriguez.

“When I heard about it, I was thinking the priorities are obviously not for me,” he said.

Now Garciaparra seems to have the upper hand with shortstops Derek Jeter and Miguel Tejada signed to long-term contracts and Rodriguez moving to third base.

But Garciaparra wouldn’t discuss his bargaining position.

“For the next eight months my priority is to go out there to try to win a World Series,” he said. “I’m excited that my socks are still red.”

AP-ES-02-24-04 1947EST