3 Yankees players Red Sox fans secretly wish were on their team

Boston Red Sox might not want to admit it, but there are at least three New York Yankees players they wish were on their team.

The rivalry between the Yankees and Red Sox is no joke.

The two teams and their fans have engaged in some of the greatest battles in MLB lore. Championships have been won and lost. Superstitions have bloomed. Epic moments have been shared.

Boston fans love to hate New York players, but who would they also love to have on their side instead?

3 Yankees players that Red Sox fans secretly wish they had

Gerrit Cole

With Gerrit Cole, the Yankees have something the Red Sox simply don’t: A bonafide ace.

To be fair, Nathan Eovaldi, Garrett Richards, Nick Pivetta, Eduardo Rodriguez and Martin Perez have generally done a good job. Eovaldi and Pivetta have six wins each, while Perez’s ERA of 3.09 is the best of the bunch.

The Yankees have Cole. The Rays have Tyler Glasnow. The Orioles have John Means. The Blue Jays have Hyun Jin Ryu. The Red Sox don’t have anyone comparable.

Putting Cole at the head of that rotation would make a huge difference. Despite a terrible recent performance against the Rays, he still ranks 11th in MLB with an ERA of 2.26. He’s fifth in WAR and strikeouts per nine innings.

If Boston had Cole, their staff would go from solid to exceptional. They’d have improved depth and a starter to rely upon for the biggest games.

Cole also has a solid playoff record, so he’d be an asset in October.