FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) – Brendan Donnelly’s 10-year journey through the minor leagues included stops with seven organizations and 14 teams. The Boston Red Sox reliever’s major league travels have been much smoother.

He’s with just his second big league club – another contender.

The Red Sox, who won the World Series in 2004, obtained Donnelly from the 2002 champion Angels on Dec. 15 for minor league lefty Phil Seibel.

“Anaheim was the first team that gave me a shot,” Donnelly said, “and it turned into a World Series run.”

The Red Sox hope the 35-year-old right-hander can contribute to another title, maybe as their closer – a job that became vacant when Jonathan Papelbon moved into the rotation for this season. Donnelly just wants to help upgrade a Boston bullpen that had a 4.51 ERA last year, despite having a closer at 0.92.

“We all know that the closer role is out there, but none of us is approaching it that way, I don’t believe,” Donnelly said. “I think everybody’s game is going to get better with the competition.”

Pitching coach John Farrell has said the potential closers are Donnelly, Joel Pineiro, Julian Tavarez and Mike Timlin. After throwing two bullpen sessions this week, following 11 days without pitching off a mound, Donnelly feels he’s getting better but has to improve his mechanics, particularly his timing.

“My first, I gave myself a C-minus. The second one I gave myself a B-minus,” he said. “I’m not all that concerned about it. At the same time, I want to be game ready, whenever the first game is.”

He said he would pitch in the exhibition opener Wednesday against Minnesota.

A 27th-round draft pick in 1992 by the Chicago White Sox, Donnelly had a 2.17 ERA during the Angels’ championship season. In the World Series, he worked 7 2-3 scoreless innings, won Game 6 and pitched two scoreless innings in Game 7.

He was 9-3 in 2005 and 6-0 last year. But with Scot Shields and Francisco Rodriguez in the Angels bullpen, he figured his opportunities would decrease.

“With Shields and Frankie being more durable than just a one-inning guy, they’re able to cover almost three innings on a nightly basis,” Donnelly said. “There really wasn’t enough innings to go around. I would just be sitting there and not really doing much.”

His stuff, he said, is “average at best,” but he is 23-8 with a 2.87 ERA during his five major league seasons. Donnelly credits his ability to make the ball move, but also relies on a type of anger management.

“When I go out there, I’m usually mad at something. That’s what works for me. When I cross the line I go into a different place and that’s where I pitch from,” he said. “I feel that being on edge, ready to snap maybe at any given moment, is where I need to be.”

He still plans to wear large prescription goggles during games, although he hasn’t used them in his bullpen sessions. He claims they’re not intended to scare batters.

Donnelly has a 3.18 career ERA against the New York Yankees, allowing six earned runs in 17 innings with 16 strikeouts – but four of those earned runs were given up Aug. 14, when J.C. Romero relieved Donnelly with the bases loaded and allowed all three runners to score.

Without an overpowering fastball, Donnelly has the best winning percentage (.742) among active relievers with at least 20 decisions.

His determination kept him going during tough times.

“After I got released the third or fourth time, (quitting) crossed my mind, like “What am I still doing this for?’ but just very briefly,” he said. “I had committed already. I was going to make it here no matter what. I didn’t care if I had to force my way in, kick the door in. I was going to make it to the big leagues some way.”

Notes: Manager Terry Francona missed Friday’s workout with flu-like symptoms. … Pitching coach John Farrell said Curt Schilling will start Wednesday night’s exhibition opener against Minnesota. He also said that on Thursday, Kason Gabbard will face Toronto on the road and Josh Beckett will pitch against Northeastern at home. In Friday’s home games, Kyle Snyder will face Toronto in the afternoon and Daisuke Matsuzaka will go against Boston College at night. Tim Wakefield and Jonathan Papelbon will work against Philadelphia at home on March 3. All pitchers will go two innings or 35 pitches, whichever comes first.