FORT MYERS, Fla. – When Matt Mantei realized whose voice it was on the other end of the phone last December, he was quite relieved.

The 31-year-old, righthanded free agent relief pitcher was a few days away from signing with a National League club, but this phone call from Boston Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein would change all that.

“I didn’t even have a second thought about coming here. When Theo contacted me, that was it,” the Tampa, Fla., native recalled. “I was about three days away from signing with the Chicago Cubs, but Theo heard about that and called me ASAP.

“And they made me feel wanted. [Former Arizona teammate Curt] Schilling called me, Mr. [John] Henry called me, Theo called me, and they really made me feel wanted. They flew me into town and showed me around the city, but they didn’t have to do that. I was going to sign regardless, so they didn’t have to waste their money.”

What was the big draw for the Diamondbacks’ all-time saves leader?

“I had an opportunity to pitch for three or four other teams and probably close this year, but that wasn’t important to me,” Mantei said. “I wanted to be somewhere where I’d win some games and be part of a championship team in a clubhouse like this. You give up some things to come play in a great place and I think the Red Sox owners know that. They’ve got a great thing going over here that a lot of guys want to be part of.”

A free agent for the first time in 10 years, the 6-foot-1, 205-pound righthander was also influenced by an earlier experience he had during an interleague series his Arizona team played in Boston.

“I was in Boston in 2002 for a game and I remember going out after and everybody was giving us hugs for beating the Yankees the year before that,” said the man with 93 career saves in nine seasons. “Everybody knew who I was and I didn’t even play that year. They’re true fans.”

Mantei missed most of the 2001 World Series championship season after a right elbow injury ended his year eight appearances into the season. He had “Tommy John” ligament replacement surgery and returned in June 2002.

Any lingering doubts he had about playing in Boston dissipated while he was watching Boston’s World Series title run last October.

“I thought they didn’t have a chance in hell to beat the Yankees, to be honest with you,” he said candidly.

“The thing I found most interesting about that was they said the clubhouse was the same when they were down 0-3 as it was when they were winning and that’s a beautiful thing. It was pretty impressive to watch,” he added.

From Cactus to Grapefruit

The newest member of the Boston Red Sox had just finished organizing his locker and was still getting his bearings Sunday morning. Blaine Neal was jet-lagged, but happy.

Neal was reporting for duty after a trade earlier in the week that sent him from the San Diego Padres to Boston, which gave up Adam Hyzdu in the swap for the righthanded pitcher.

“Anytime you get an opportunity to pitch in the big leagues, that’s great, but when it’s with a team like Boston, that makes it even better,” said Neal. “I would think I’ll be a long reliever, but it doesn’t matter to me. These guys just want to win and they all have the same goal. They just check their egos at the door and get stuff done.”

Neal is already familiar with 2004 San Diego teammates David Wells and Jay Payton as well as several other players on Boston’s roster.

“I said ‘hi’ to [Wells] and Jay, and Ramon Vazquez was over there, too,” Neal said. “I’ve played with [Kevin] Millar in Fargo and Matt Clement.”

Neal will call New England his home base during the season for the first time since 2001, when he played for the Portland Sea Dogs. The 26-year-old New Jersey native appeared in 54 games for the Dogs and went 2-3 with 21 saves and a 2.36 ERA in 53 1/3 innings.

“It was awesome. Best city I’ve ever played in,” Neal said of Portland, where he lived half a block from Hadlock Field.

Boston is now Payton’s place

For the last five years, Jay Payton has been a starting outfielder in the major leagues. In fact, it’s all he’s known in five full big-league seasons.

Following an offseason trade from San Diego along with Ramon Vazquez, David Pauley, and cash for center fielder Dave Roberts, Payton is now adapting to life as a backup with the Red Sox.

“I felt welcome from day one here. The only downside is I’m used to being an everyday player and here I’m the fourth guy, but it’s a great team and a great place to play baseball,” Payton said. “When you’re not used to being a backup, I mean, I’ve started the last five years, so only time will tell how I adjust to the role.”

The 32-year-old righthanded hitter has put up good numbers in the National League over the course of his career. Last year, he batted .260 with eight home runs and 55 RBIs, but in 2003 with Colorado, he hit .302 with 28 homers and 89 RBIs. He hit .303 with 16 homers and 59 RBIs in 2002 for the New York Mets (87 games) and Rockies (47).

“I really don’t worry too much about where I’m playing or who I’m playing for. The fact I’m playing in Boston, which is one of the greatest baseball towns there is, is great,” he said. “I mean Boston and New York, if you’re a baseball player, those are the places you want to go.

“I’m looking forward to getting back to the playoffs. I had a chance to play in the World Series in 2000 [with the Mets] and came up a little short, so that’s what I’m looking forward to most. I just hope I get a chance to experience what they did last year.”

And then there were 29

The Red Sox cut their spring training roster to 29 Sunday by reassigning six players to their minor league camp. Right-handed pitchers Jack Cressend and Jeremi Gonzalez were pared from the roster along with outfielders George Lombard and Bill McMillon, infielder Roberto Petagine, and catcher Shawn Wooten.

The moves leave first baseman-outfielder-pitcher David McCarty as the only nonroster invitee still in the major league camp.