MALDEN, Mass. (AP) – Nomar Garciaparra’s agent said Monday night he believes the Red Sox shortstop will stay with Boston after this season despite being eligible for free agency.

Arn Tellem spoke moments after chatting with Red Sox owner John Henry at a bowling fund-raiser held by Garciaparra for the fifth straight year.

“He wants to stay here, and I personally would like to see him stay here,” Tellem said. “You can see the outpouring here. Everyone wants him to stay here, and I know both sides would like him to stay, and I believe in the end that’s what will happen.”

Henry said Garciaparra’s popularity with fans is a factor in the team’s desire to keep him. Hundreds of fans cheered him as he was introduced at the fund-raiser at a bowling alley north of Boston.

“When he steps to the plate you know there’s no one who has more of the heart of New England than Nomar Garciaparra,” Henry said. “You just hear it in the ballpark every game, every at bat.”

Garciaparra has spent his ninth season with Boston on the disabled list with tendinitis in his right Achilles’ tendon but has been working out regularly and hopes to return once he can run at top speed.

The two-time AL batting champion has said he wants to finish his career in Boston.

Henry said he didn’t know of any progress toward a new deal. Tellem said there’s no rush to reach an agreement.

“There’s still plenty of time,” he said. “The focus right now is getting Nomar back to playing and finishing up the season well, and there’s plenty of time to get a deal done. It’s not what matters in May. It’s what happens in September, October, November.”

Garciaparra is making $11.5 million in the last year of his contract after an offseason in which the Red Sox tried to obtain shortstop Alex Rodriguez from Texas for Manny Ramirez. The Red Sox then were expected to trade Garciaparra to open a spot for Rodriguez.

Garciaparra said he was hurt that he learned about that on television. It hurt relations between the team and Tellem.

“We apologized to each other several months ago for getting upset,” Henry said of Tellem. “You’re going to get upset once in a while, but no one should get upset in public with each other so we’ve been very friendly since we met for the first time in spring training.”

“I echo his comments,” Tellem said. “It’s all behind us.”

AP-ES-05-24-04 2054EDT