Cashman: Yankees still chasing Red Sox

TAMPA — Despite adding Giancarlo Stanton to an already muscular lineup and getting Brandon Drury to play third base, Brian Cashman said he doesn’t believe the Yankees have caught the Red Sox who will likely announce the signing of J.D. Martinez on Thursday.

“They are the American League East champs so we are not on equal footing,’’ the Yankees’ general manager said Wednesday during a team workout at George M. Steinbrenner Field. “We were a wild card. They are the American League East champs and we are not. We are not on equal footing until we take it away from them.’’

Many believe the Yankees will do that this season thanks to adding Stanton, last season’s NL MVP and the continued development of Aaron Judge, the AL Rookie of the Year, Gary Sanchez, Didi Gregorius, Luis Severino, Jordan Montgomery and Chad Green.

Signing Martinez fills a Red Sox void at DH but the rotation has question marks larger than those belonging to the Yankees’ starting five.

Not only is Cashman not willing to say his club has pulled even with its blood rivals, he is looking in the rearview mirror.

“At the same time prevent anybody who finished behind us from surpassing us and joining the fray,’’ said Cashman, whose Yankees chased the Red Sox until the final two games of last year’s regular season before finishing second by two lengths and securing the top AL wild-card spot which led the Yankees to reaching Game 7 of the ALCS. “Toronto has done a lot of work on its roster and Baltimore is starting to make some signs. Ultimately, we are not on the same ground because [Red Sox] are the American League East champions.’’