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Paul Blackburn did not have to wait too long or look too far to find gainful employment.

The Yankees signed the veteran pitcher after he was released earlier this week by the Mets — and added him to the active roster in time for their 4-3 loss to the Red Sox in Thursday’s series opener.

“[He provides] some depth, some length. Our pen right now is not filled with a lot of guys that give us a lot of length,” Aaron Boone said before the game. “And obviously [there is] a track record of success in the big leagues.

“So he’s a guy that’s built up that gives us some coverage if we get in a situation where we need some real length.”

The Mets designated Blackburn for assignment after Friday’s loss to the Mariners to clear a roster spot for pitching prospect Nolan McLean, who made his major-league debut the following day.

The 31-year-old Blackburn officially was released Tuesday, and he claimed he immediately was contacted by the Yanks.

He was supposed to join the team Wednesday in Tampa, but he encountered weather issues in Texas and had to be rebooked and rerouted to Newark.

“Just gonna assume the bullpen. Available,” Blackburn said when asked about his expected role. “It was tough [to be released], but I think it’s kind of a good place to start over. Just gonna try to contribute any way I can here for the rest of this year and keep going.

“I honestly didn’t know what to expect or what to do, but I just tried to stay ready and continue to throw and be available until someone called.”

The righty started the season on the injured list and did not pitch until June 2 after dealing with right knee inflammation late in spring training.

Blackburn went 1-5 with a 6.00 ERA in 12 games (nine starts) with the Mets since they acquired him from Oakland at the 2024 trade deadline.

He pitched five strong innings in relief (two earned runs) against the Braves on Aug. 13 but he was DFA’d two days later.

“I feel like I got myself into a good spot physically and just timing-wise with my mechanics, I was in a good spot the last month. I feel like I’m still in that spot,” Blackburn said. “I think just the group that’s in here, you know it’s obviously talent everywhere you look, and [they’re] in a really good spot for the postseason.

“I mean, it’s the New York Yankees, so that’s cool, I guess.”

Another potential long man on the way is Ryan Yarbrough, who is being built up in a minor league rehab assignment after missing time with an oblique injury.

To make room on the active roster for Blackburn, the Yanks optioned righty Allan Winans to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Giancarlo Stanton started in right field again Thursday night’s loss, a product of Aaron Judge still not being able to play defense because of his right flexor strain.

Asked befor the game whether Judge could return to the outfield at some point against Boston this weekend, Boone said, “I don’t know. … He continues to progress and hopefully we get to that point soon.”

The manager acknowledged it still isn’t ideal to have Stanton out there, as the slugger showed when he suffered lower body soreness after he started three straight games in right field against the Twins at home last week.

“There’s always risk when you’re doing things,” Boone said of the decision to play Stanton on defense, something they have been very reluctant to do in recent years as it has frequently led to injuries.

But Judge’s injury, and the uncertainty surrounding it, coupled with the fact that Stanton (0-for-4 with a walk Thursday) had been on a torrid streak at the plate has forced the Yankees’ hand — though Boone said he didn’t expect Stanton to be in right field on Friday.

Fernando Cruz (left oblique strain) and Ryan Yarbrough (right oblique strain) will both get at least one more rehab game.

Boone said Cruz was scheduled to pitch more than one inning on Friday at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, since the Yankees will want him to be able to get more than three outs as soon as he returns to the active roster — which Boone said could be next week against Washington.

“We want his volume built up, so when he gets here, he’s ready to jump into any role,’’ Boone said.

Yarbrough, out since mid-June, threw 50 pitches in 3 ²/₃ innings in a start with SWB on Wednesday so that he’d be able to provide starting pitching depth when he gets back to The Bronx.