Yankees: 5 trade deadline targets for NYY as Aug. 31 rapidly approaches

2. Martin Perez and … Other Red Sox Targets

We’re sorry, but we at least have to *talk* about the Yankees trading with the Red Sox.

So few teams are bad this year! So few! And one of them’s the Boston Red Sox. What can you do?!

Odds are, Chaim Bloom would love to trade with his chief rivals this year, considering most of the available Red Sox feel like ticking time bombs.

Martin Perez, on a one-year deal, is really the only arm who makes sense … for anyone, and he’s been a viable major-league starter this year, posting a 3.38 ERA and stymieing the Rays in Tampa. He’s certainly better than JA Happ — but, then again, so is Clarke Schmidt, and we’re still sitting here doing this dance. Perez’s handling of the Yankees this week could very well determine his standing with the organization.

But could this go deeper? The Red Sox made it clear this week that nobody is untouchable. They’re not trading Xander Bogaerts or Rafael Devers to the Yankees — is there anyone else they’d want? Nathan Eovaldi comes to mind, but odds are that’d be a classic Boston hoodwink, and he’ll revert right back to his Yankees form when he arrives, two more years of a massive contract (four years, $68 million) in tow. He’ll absolutely forget how to make his fastball move if he shows up on our doorstep. Bank that.

JD Martinez would be fun to steal, but we don’t need another DH who could opt out (and is struggling). Kevin Pillar would be fun outfield depth? Ditto Jose Peraza for second base, if DJ LeMahieu misses more time than expected. Let’s keep this stupid team on speed dial.