FORT MYERS, Fla. — As one question about the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry was followed by five more, Aaron Boone sat in the first-base dugout Saturday at JetBlue Park and told a story about the night he became a Yankee at the 2003 trade deadline.

“When I got traded by the Reds, that night we were hanging out in the clubhouse in Cincinnati, hanging out and saying goodbyes and Tim Naehring was there,’’ Boone said of the Yankees’ VP of baseball operations today and a minor league field coordinator for the Reds then. “Obviously, he played in Boston and he said, ‘You have no idea what you are walking into.’ I consider myself a fan of the game with pretty good knowledge of what the heck is going on. Sure enough he was right.’’

Of course Boone stamped his name into the rivalry with a pinch-hit home run off knuckleballer Tim Wakefield in the 11th inning of Game 7 of the ALCS that sent the Yankees to the 2003 World Series.

Now, Boone is back as a centerpiece of sports most heated rivalry as the Yankees’ manager. He replaced Joe Girardi, and Alex Cora took over for John Farrell in the Red Sox dugout.

Saturday, the first spring training meeting went to the Yankees, 5-3.

“I remember my first trip to Fenway sometime in August, and it was another level but so much fun,’’ Boone said of a three-game Yankees-Red Sox series that started Aug. 29 and finished with the Yankees winning twice and Boone going 5-for-13 with five RBIs. “Obviously, in 2003 that was a peak time in the rivalry. It was something to be a part of and an honor to get to play where it matters like that, especially in August. I understand it’s a big deal.’’

Wakefield was at JetBlue Park on Saturday as part of the Red Sox television coverage and spoke with Boone.

“Wake is good people. It’s always good to bump into him,’’ said Boone, who was aware a picture of the two had been snapped.

Naehring knew what Boone was headed for because he played for the Red Sox from 1990-97, and wasn’t shy about letting the Yankees’ new third baseman know what he was getting into.

“I said good luck and this and that and I said, ‘It’s quite different,’ ” Naehring recalled, standing between home plate and the Yankees’ dugout. “He said, ‘What do you mean?’ I said, ‘You will see.’ ”

Boone tore up his knee playing basketball following the 2003 season, the Yankees acquired Alex Rodriguez, and Boone finished his career playing for the Marlins, Nationals and the Astros. Boone then ducked into the broadcast booth. So, his taste of the rivalry consists of six games played 15 years ago and watching and yacking for TV.

“It’s dynamic and unlike anything I experienced before. It was the old Yankee Stadium and Fenway,’’ Naehring recalled. “A lot of the old-time baseball scouts talk about how East Coast baseball is a little different, a little different mentality and you have to be able to handle it.’’

Boone, who says Red Sox fans have treated him well when he runs into them, and Cora get their first taste of managing in the rivalry from April 10-12 in New England’s living room.

The Yankees chased the Red Sox until the final weekend last season, advanced further in the postseason and added superstar power by acquiring Giancarlo Stanton from the Marlins in December. The Red Sox countered by signing J.D. Martinez.

The Red Sox rotation appears stronger than the Yankees, whose lineup gets the edge.

“Obviously, both clubs look like they are going to be pretty strong,’’ Naehring said. “Obviously the rivalry will be hot and heavy.’’

Just the way the baseball galaxy loves it.