just that it’s going to take some time. The important thing is I want to be here and they want me here - for one day, anyway.”

The terms of the deal have not been disclosed but it’s been reported that Garciaparra is looking for something in the one million dollar range and the Red Sox are offering something in the zero dollar range. Garciaparra wouldn’t confirm or deny those figures.

“Let’s just say, once again, that there’s a sizable gap there,” he said. “I’m not getting into specifics but it’s going to take a lot of give and take to get to where we want to be. And it's not all about money, either. It's about respect. I just want to be paid my fair market value for one day of sitting at a podium and taking pictures.”

As for the Red Sox, they insist they have made a reasonable offer to Garciaparra but that the 36-year-old simply won ’t budge from his original demand.

“We made a reasonable offer,” said Theo Epstein. “But Nomar's asking for a pretty significant sum of money and he won't budge. If we can’t come to a deal within the next few days we might have to just give up – or perhaps do a sign and trade with someone like the Royals. He would be an immediate upgrade at shortstop for them, even if he never played an inning.”

A source close to the negotiations say the Red Sox are “furious” with Garciaparra for turning a gesture of good will into a protracted and bitter contract squabble.

“They are furious right now,” said the source. “They reached out to him and offered him this nice gesture and he has turned around and made it into a cynical money grab. This guy never changes. This is just like the last time they tried to sign him to a contract. I hear he's even trying to get it extended to two days so he can have more security.”