YANKEESRED SOX TIES
The Yankees and Red Sox may not like to mix, but their current rosters are filled with players who’ve donned the pinstripes and called Fenway home. Here’s a look:
Nathan Eovaldi: After not getting a chance to pitch in the postseason with the Yankees, Eovaldi is in line to make his playoff debut with the Red Sox as the scheduled Game 4 starter. Before undergoing his second Tommy John surgery in 2016, Eovaldi was 23-11 with a 4.45 ERA across two seasons in pinstripes.
Steve Pearce: The second player to suit up for all five teams in the AL East, Pearce has lived on both sides of the rivalry, even if his Yankees tenure was brief. The first baseman played 12 games for the Yankees in 2012, hitting .160 with one home run before he went back on waivers. He’s been better with Boston, hitting .279 with seven home runs in 50 games since arriving in a trade from the Jays on June 28.
Josh Bard: The Yankees bench coach was not with the Red Sox for long. They traded for him in January 2006 and shipped him off just over three months after he played in only seven games. The Red Sox wanted him to catch knuckleballer Tim Wakefield, but he allowed 10 passed balls in 53 innings, forcing Boston to reacquire Doug Mirabelli for Bard. Jacoby Ellsbury (below): Remember him? The Yankees outfielder is earning $21 million this year and hasn’t played a game because of myriad injuries. Ellsbury spent the first seven years of his career with the Red Sox, winning the World Series as a rookie in 2007 and again in 2013 before coming to The Bronx.