Not long after posting that the Phillies had an interest in signing left-hander Nestor Cortes, the deal was announced. The following is an updated version of the story we posted.
It’s all about the pitching; and the Phillies don’t have enough of it. Free agent pitcher Nestor Cortes had surgery to repair a torn tendon in his left (throwing arm) biceps last October and is nearing a return to baseball. Cortes, who pitched for Milwaukee and San Diego last season, has been working out for teams including the Phillies.
Red Sox beat writer Chris Cotillo of Massachusetts Live was the first to report that the Phillies and Cortes were working on a potential deal. As Cotillo mentioned, the Red Sox had some interest, but ultimately passed. NL Wild Card contender San Diego was reportedly also interested with the Yankees and Astros potentially having had some interest in the left-hander for the playoff push.
Cortes, 31, has been on and off of the IL frequently over the past few seasons with elbow and shoulder issues. He missed time with a flexor strain last season prior to the tendon injury.
In just eight starts last season, Cortes was 2-4, 6.29 with Milwaukee and San Diego. He made 30 starts for the Yankees in 2024 with a 3.77 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP in 174 innings of work.
It’s likely that Cortes will need some work in the minors prior to joining the Phillies. It’s not clear where he would slot into the pitching staff. Aaron Nola has seemed to have figured out some of the issues that were plaguing him earlier in the season. Jesus Luzardo, Cristopher Sanchez, and Zack Wheeler are locked into their spots in the rotation. Andrew Painter had strung together three good outings prior to allowing five earned runs in five innings against the Twins in his last start.
The fact that Painter has a 9.56 ERA in the first inning of his 16 starts this season would seem to diminish the odds of him pitching out of the bullpen.
Cortes started his career as a reliever with 40 of his first 42 games coming out of the bullpen. He made 14 starts and eight relief appearances with the 2021 Yankees and has just one relief appearance since then.
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