ATLANTA (AP) – Edgar Renteria slipped on his No. 11 Atlanta Braves jersey for the first time Monday and predicted he would find a better fit than his uncomfortable one-season stay in Boston.

Renteria was introduced to Atlanta media almost exactly one year after he agreed to a $40 million, four-year contract with the Red Sox. Boston traded the shortstop to the Braves on Thursday for third baseman Andy Marte.

From the beginning, when he started the season 0-for-10 and hit .228 in April, Renteria struggled to fit in with the Red Sox. He was booed by Boston fans as he piled up a major league-high 30 errors.

His finished with a .276 batting average, eight homers and 70 RBIs – passable for most shortstops but well below his best years with Florida and St. Louis. In 2003, he hit .330 with 13 homers, 100 RBIs and 34 stolen bases for the Cardinals.

Renteria acknowledged he wasn’t prepared for the negative reception from Boston fans.

“This was my first time,” he said of the boos from the home-team supporters. “I didn’t know how to handle it. … Nobody likes to get booed. You see me play, I always start slow. Maybe the fans didn’t know anything about me.”

Renteria described himself as “a quiet guy.” He said of Boston: “It’s a little tough there.”

In the end, the Red Sox were so eager to trade Renteria and his contract that they will pay $8 million of the $26 million he is owed for the next three seasons. In addition, the Red Sox must pay the $3 million buyout if his $11 million option for 2009 is declined by Atlanta.

“It seems like they were really pushing to trade him; there’s no way to soft-sell that,” said Renteria’s agent, Jeff Lane.

Renteria was hesitant to respond to questions about Boston fans, the infield at Fenway Park or his overall experience with the Red Sox.

“I’m not making excuses,” he said. “I always say I make errors. The field doesn’t make errors.”

He stressed that he is eager to return to the National League with Bobby Cox and the Braves. “I am so happy,” he said. “All my career I want to play with the Atlanta Braves.”

Braves general manager John Schuerholz said the team received “rave reviews about the kind of man he is.”

Renteria said he respects the Braves’ streak of 14 straight division titles and also has heard positive reviews of the organization from two brothers. Edinson Renteria was a minor league coach for the Braves from 1996-2004, and Everh Renteria played in the Braves’ organization in 1995.

Renteria said the NL is a better fit for his style of play. He has six seasons with 20 or more stolen bases, but he had a career-low nine steals with Boston.

The Braves shopped for a shortstop after Rafael Furcal agreed to a $39 million, three-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Furcal was the Braves’ leadoff hitter. Renteria says he’ll be happy at any spot in Cox’s lineup.

“I can hit leadoff,” he said. “I can hit ninth behind the pitcher.”

Second baseman Marcus Giles may be the Braves’ new leadoff hitter. Renteria, who set a career high with 100 runs scored with the Red Sox, could bat second. He has driven in 70 or more runs four straight years and could follow Chipper Jones and Andruw Jones in the middle of the order.

Renteria, a career .288 hitter, won Gold Gloves with St. Louis in 2002 and 2003 and is a four-time All-Star selection.

“I want to start in the All-Star game and win the Gold Glove and everything,” he said. “But most important, I want to help this team win.”

the championship.”

This time, however, Renteria issued an early request for Braves fans to remain patient.

“I start slow,” he said. “I get hot when the weather gets hot. I don’t know why. I’m that kind of player.”

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