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

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.

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.

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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