The numbers say otherwise, but a deal that would bring Texas Rangers shortstop Alex Rodriguez to Boston and make current Red Sox shortstop Nomar Garciaparra expendable just doesn’t feel right.

The Red Sox are trying to trade disgruntled outfielder Manny Ramirez to Texas for ARod, one of the best players in the game over his last eight seasons.

ARod is a .308 career hitter with 345 home runs, 990 RBIs, 285 doubles and 22 triples since making his major league debut in 1994. Nomar has a .318 career average with 146 home runs, 566 RBIs, 231 doubles and 43 triples since he began in the majors in 1996. ARod’s numbers also show he is a better shortstop in the field.

Nomar has also been criticized, and justifiably so, for his lack of leadership and has problems dealing with the demanding Boston media.

So why keep him?

He is a Red Sox.

In these days of free agency and million-dollar trades, it is becoming more difficult to identify players with one ballclub. Fewer and fewer stay with one team for their whole career. That lessens my interest in the team and Major League Baseball.

It’s great being a Boston Red Sox fan and watching Nomar Garciaparra play baseball. He is a Red Sox product who came up through their farm system after being drafted in the first round out of Georgia Tech in 1994.

Sure, Nomar aggravates me sometimes when I watch him play. I’ll never like the way he throws the ball to first base and he makes too many errors on routine plays.

But he is a Red Sox.

He’s a delight to watch when making a play on the move and firing a ball from deep in the shortstop hole to nail a runner. He’s a gap hitter and it’s exciting to watch him charge around the bases for one of his trademark doubles or triples.

When we have the Red Sox game on at the office, one of Nomar’s plays in the field or at the plate will evoke a response from some of us of “Ramon, Ramon.” That’s about as complimentary as we get, but it’s kind of neat since it follows the reason behind Nomar’s name -his Dad’s name is Ramon, which is Nomar spelled backward.

Some may believe that getting ARod and dealing away Nomar will bring the Red Sox that elusive World Series title. They forget, however, that World Series are won with great pitching and that the Red Sox still have holes in their pitching staff despite the recent acquisition of Curt Schilling. They also may have forgotten that even with great numbers, ARod has never led his team to a World Series title despite playing with some great teams while with the Seattle Mariners 1994-2000.

Nomar is a Red Sox and should always stay a Red Sox. Despite his problems with the Boston media and his perceived lack of charisma, Nomar is a fan favorite in Boston. He has become part of the community and has established charitable foundations. He is putting down roots.

Over the years, the Red Sox have dealt away or lost to free agency several players who should have, like Nomar, been career members of the Boston Red Sox. Freddy Lynn, Rick Burleson and Carlton Fisk are three who should have stayed. More recently, Mo Vaughn and Roger Clemens are two others who should have been kept.

There are others, such as George Scott, Sparky Lyle, Reggie Smith and Tony Conigliaro.

And of course, Babe Ruth.

Sports editor Joe McLaughlin can be reached at 990-8229 or jmclaughin@bangordailynews.net.