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Yankees: 3 Red Sox players NYY should try to trade for

By Adam Weinrib |
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 16: Kevin Pillar #5 of the Boston Red Sox hits a home run to left field in the third inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on August 16, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 16: Kevin Pillar #5 of the Boston Red Sox hits a home run to left field in the third inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on August 16, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
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We know, we know, but the Red Sox have some cheap trade options who could help the Yankees.

QUICK PREFACE: Any team that helps the Red Sox out of the Nathan Eovaldi contract (through 2022, $18 million per year) will be committing a crime against humanity akin to helping them weasel their way out of Carl Crawford’s deal. Don’t be that team, Yankees.

When team president Sam Kennedy announced on WEEI last week that Boston was open for business, and there were zero untouchables, that got our wheels turning.

OK, the Sox probably won’t trade Team MVP Xander Bogaerts or young cornerstone Rafael Devers, and even if they do so, it won’t be to us.

But there are plenty of far cheaper Red Sox who joined up under Chaim Bloom to help ~lead Boston back to the playoffs after ridding themselves of the scourge of Mookie Betts~ and forgot to read the fine print on their contracts that said, “Yeah, we’re not doing that this year. Bye!”

Any of these three would be helpful depth pieces of the Yankees, if Boston’s really looking to unload.

Martin Perez #54 of the Boston Red Sox (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Martin Perez #54 of the Boston Red Sox (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

3. Martin Perez

The Yankees could definitely mess with Martin Perez.

Martin Perez as Boston’s No. 2 starter? Laughable at first, not actually that hilarious now.

Perez is competent, and the main issue with his existence is that slotted behind him in the rotation is the TBD Trio. Add the crafty lefty behind Cole, Tanaka, and Jordan Montgomery, and you may have something here, if James Paxton continues to struggle to press forward.

Prior to Monday’s start against the Yankees, Perez posted a 3.38 ERA, fending off a first-start stinker against Baltimore (more defensible now that we know they’re kind of good) and rebounding by owning the Rays twice (10.2 innings, two earned runs).

Even if the Sox are poison, and we only add Perez to stick him in the bullpen, having some lefty kryptonite for future matchups with Tampa Bay could be exceedingly valuable, especially in the postseason.

Chaim Bloom crowed about believing he could “unlock” Perez’s tools when he acquired him, and through this short sprint, the lefty’s having his best year since age 22 in Texas. Maybe it happened? And maybe we can have him now.

Brandon Workman #44 of the Boston Red Sox (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
Brandon Workman #44 of the Boston Red Sox (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) /

2. Brandon Workman

Brandon Workman could switch sides in the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry.

Objectively speaking, the Yankees are one bullpen arm short of where they intended to be, even after Aroldis Chapman’s return.

Though it’s morally ambiguous to force a player to change sides of the country during a pandemic, maybe the Yanks could persuade the Red Sox to just leave Brandon Workman behind?

The 2021 free agent will not be re-signed in Boston (making their already-bad ‘pen…worse?), and though he makes things a bit sweaty at times, his big breaker could slide right in in place of Tommy Kahnle’s devastating change.

Though solid en route to the 2018 World Series, and a stalwart in Boston since 2013, Workman somehow got filthy nasty in 2019, and found himself installed as the floundering team’s closer, racking up 16 saves after Matt Barnes and Ryan Brasier flamed out. Never that formidable before, he posted Betances numbers, allowing 29 hits in 71.2 innings, whiffing 104, and posting a 1.88 ERA.

Of course, the issue here is that is seems like the Phillies are about to jump the Yanks on this one; they’re deep into Workman talks, and it could get done shortly. Perhaps New York would like to talk to the Phils about another deal? It’d be easier than trading with Boston, after all.

The Red Sox bullpen was reprehensible last year without Craig Kimbrel, but Workman really worked. This is a high-upside play that might cost a top-20 prospect, but likely no more. We’d consider.

**Workman was traded to the Phillies on Friday night, so this is no longer an option**

Kevin Pillar #5 of the Boston Red Sox (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
Kevin Pillar #5 of the Boston Red Sox (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

1. Kevin Pillar

The Yankees (sighs for 10 years) have to consider Kevin Pillar.

Ugh, do we have to? No, like, I know, but…do we haaaaaavvvvveeee to?

Kevin Pillar has been a thorn in our side since his Toronto days, coupling daily Web Gems with a .250 batting average that went up .100 points whenever he faced Yankees starters, especially lefties. Has anyone ever hit more infield squibbers at the exact right moment?

The hateable Pillar was always destined to be a Red Sox, with his excess hustle and showmanship in the outfield, belying far worse metrics, seemingly a perfect fit at Fenway (and in this rivalry).

But the Yankees, unfortunately, could really use a righty bat with his exact traits to slot in on the bench while Mike Tauchman and Clint Frazier are pressed into everyday action. Sure, they might have to send Pillar to the alternate site when Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge are healthy (might), but that would also be adequate punishment for making our lives hell, so there you go.

With a .313 average and several highlight-reel plays already on his 2020 ledger, Pillar does Brett Gardner better than Gardy can right now, and somehow displays reverse splits thus far (.357 against righties).

He’s basically a free agent fill-in. We’d suck it up and take a flyer.

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