The Philadelphia Phillies are reportedly in contract talks with former New York Yankees All-Star pitcher Nestor Cortes. This move comes in mid-August, well after the MLB trade deadline, and it’s a head-scratcher for anyone who saw Cortes’s numbers last season. Dave Dombrowski went into the deadline needing help in the outfield, bullpen, and rotation. While they did grab some relief help and added Luis Arraez, shifting their defense for an offensive boost, a starting pitcher was the one big thing they didn’t land. Now, it looks like they are trying to fix that.
From All-Star to Arm Surgery: Cortes’s Wild Ride
Remember Nestor Cortes? The guy who was an All-Star for the Yankees, rocking a 2.44 ERA across 158.1 innings in 2024? Yeah, that guy. The Phillies are reportedly talking to him about a free agent deal, according to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com. But don’t forget the other side of that story: Cortes, a 31-year-old lefty, had arm surgery last fall and spent 2025 struggling big time. He posted a brutal 9.00 ERA in just two starts for the Milwaukee Brewers before they shipped him off to the San Diego Padres. In San Diego, things weren’t much better, with a 5.47 ERA and a 1-3 record over six starts, tallying a 0.0 bWAR. Ouch. He even gave up a walk-off homer to Freddie Freeman in the 2024 World Series, which is a tough memory. The guy’s been working his way back from that surgery, so this isn’t some sure thing for Philly.
The Phillies’ Risky Play for Postseason Depth
So why are the Phillies, who desperately need to ease their taxed bullpen in August, rolling the dice on Cortes? If they can somehow get him back to his 2024 All-Star form, or even his 3.77 ERA over 174.1 innings from that same year, they could have a quality lefty on their hands. Philly already has a set five-man rotation with Cristopher Sanchez, Zack Wheeler, Jesus Luzardo, Aaron Nola, and Andrew Painter. So, Cortes might be insurance for that bullpen or even a way to move to a six-man rotation to save some arms for a potential postseason push. There is even a scenario where Wheeler, who’s been struggling a bit lately, could hit the injured list for a break, with Cortes stepping in. But the most likely play? Cortes becomes a long reliever, giving that overworked bullpen some much-needed relief. First, he has to actually sign, and then the Phillies need to clear a roster spot. This is a fascinating potential addition as they fight for a postseason spot in a super competitive National League.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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