Phillies Reportedly Sign Former Yankees All-Star Pitcher
The Phillies Phillies reportedly signed a veteran starting pitcher to a major league contract on Wednesday.
The Philadelphia Phillies are set to bolster their pitching staff ahead of the stretch run by signing former Yankees All-Star Nestor Cortes, according to reports. Robert Murray of Fansided and Todd Zolecki of MLB.com independently confirmed the deal, which is pending a physical examination. Cortes, who was originally drafted by the New York Yankees in the 36th round of the 2013 draft, spent five years with the Baltimore Orioles before returning to the Yankees in 2019.
He found success with the Bronx Bombers in 2021, posting a remarkable 2.90 ERA in 28 starts. His breakout performance earned him a spot in the American League Cy Young Award voting, where he finished eighth. However, injuries curtailed his 2023 season, but Cortes bounced back with a 3.77 ERA over 174.1 innings in 2024. The Philadelphia native's career took another turn when the Yankees traded him to the Milwaukee Brewers for closer Devin Williams.
After a brief stint with the San Diego Padres, Cortes is now joining the Phillies, a team that is currently leading in the NL wild-card race. At 31 years old, the pitcher's role with the Phillies remains uncertain, but analysts speculate that he could serve as a reliever, start in a six-man rotation, or even provide an eighth inning boost alongside struggling starter Andrew Painter.
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