Milwaukee Brewers left-hander Nestor Cortes (elbow) was out from late September until the World Series with the New York Yankees this year, but he's had a "fully healthy offseason," according to general manager Matt Arnold. The Brewers did extensive work on Cortes' medicals before acquiring him from the Yankees this week as part of the deal that sent All-Star closer Devin Williams to the Bronx. Cortes had an MRI exam a couple weeks ago that cleared him to begin his offseason throwing program on schedule last week. The 30-year-old veteran dealt with a flexor strain in his left elbow, but he appears to be healthy now and should be ready for the start of the 2025 season, barring a setback. He threw a career-high 174 1/3 innings in 2024 and had an ERA under 2.00 in his last seven outings before getting hurt. In Milwaukee, he'll be a back-end rotation arm in fantasy that comes with injury concerns.
The Milwaukee Brewers acquired left-hander Nestor Cortes and second base prospect Caleb Durbin from the New York Yankees on Friday in exchange for right-handed reliever Devin Williams, according to sources. Cortes became expendable for the Yankees after they signed left-hander Max Fried this week to add to their starting rotation. Cortes dealt with some injuries in 2024 and finished the regular-season on the shelf due to a flexor strain, although he was able to make it back in a relief role during the World Series. When healthy, the 30-year-old veteran southpaw was solid on the mound in pinstripes last season, posting a 3.77 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with 162 strikeouts and 39 walks in 174 1/3 innings in his fourth year with the team. Before his injury, he had a 1.58 ERA in his final seven appearances. The health of Cortes' elbow makes him a bit risky, but the move to Milwaukee should guarantee him a rotation spot if he's healthy.
New York Yankees starting pitcher Nestor Cortes (elbow) will join the Yankees roster for the World Series. Cortes has been out since September 18 while dealing with a flexor strain in his left elbow. With just a month of recovery, Cortes could be risking re-injury, but the lefty will consider it worth the risk if he comes away with a World Series ring. The Yankees have not said whether the 29-year-old will start or come out of the bullpen, but given the nature of his injury and the fact he hasn't pitched in a live game in a month, expect the latter. Jon Berti was taken off the roster to make room for Cortes.
Nestor Cortes Expects To Be On World Series Roster
New York Yankees left-hander Nestor Cortes (elbow) expects to be on the roster for the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, even though he knows there's long-term injury risk if he comes back a month after being diagnosed with a flexor strain in his left elbow. "We have weighed in the consequences this can lead up to," Cortes said, "but if I have a ring and then a year off of baseball, then so be it." The 29-year-old southpaw continues to ramp up and threw a 28-pitch live batting practice session on Tuesday. Manager Aaron Boone said on Monday there was a "good chance" Cortes would be added to the World Series roster. Since he has not pitched in a big-league game since Sept. 18, he is most likely to be used in a relief role out of the Yankees' bullpen against LA. Cortes would join lefties Tim Hill and Tim Mayza out of the bullpen.
"Good Chance" Nestor Cortes Will Be On World Series Roster
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said there's a "good chance" that left-hander Nestor Cortes (elbow) will be included on the roster for the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, which begins this Friday at Dodger Stadium. Cortes is set to throw another live batting practice session on Tuesday, and if he gets through that without a setback, he could get the clearance to rejoin the roster. The 29-year-old has been out since late September due to a left flexor strain in his left elbow, so he's fully expected to come back and pitch out of New York's bullpen in the World Series. The Cuban southpaw went 9-10 during the regular season in 31 outings (30 starts), posting a 3.77 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with 162 strikeouts in 174 1/3 innings pitched. Cortes allowed four runs in 5 1/3 innings at Yankee Stadium in a start against the Dodgers back on June 8.
New York Yankees starting pitcher Nestor Cortes (elbow) is set to throw another bullpen session early next week and could make the World Series roster, according to Chris Kirschner of The Athletic. The southpaw has been progressing well from the flexor strain he suffered in September and has begun to log successful bullpens over the past week. If the 29-year-old is able to have another successful session in the coming days, he could return in time to help the Yankees capture their 28th World Series. During the summer, Cortes held a 3.77 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP across 174 1/3 innings of work.
New York Yankees pitcher Nestor Cortes (elbow) threw a live session on Wednesday in what the hurler described as a hybrid workout, with about half (10-15 pitches) coming in the bullpen and the other half coming versus live batters. The team will see how he feels afterward and if all goes well the expectation is that the southpaw will face live batters again this coming weekend. The assumption at this point is that he should be ready by the World Series were the Yankees to advance and that the 29-year-old would be deployed as a reliever rather than a starter. Cortes had a solid regular season with a 3.77 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and 17.3% K-BB%, but only a handful of innings came in relief. For his career, the lefty has a 3.56 ERA and 1.11 WHIP as a starter (467 2/3 IP) compared to a 4.93 ERA and 1.44 WHIP as a reliever (100 1/3 IP).
New York Yankees left-hander Nestor Cortes (elbow) was left off the roster for the American League Championship Series against the Cleveland Guardians, but manager Aaron Boone said on Monday that he's "really excited" about where Cortes is at in his rehab from a flexor strain in his left elbow. Cortes could throw to live hitters by the weekend and could be in play to return to the roster if the club advances past the Guardians and to the World Series. The fact that the 29-year-old southpaw has been sidelined by the injury since late September means that he will likely only be available in a relief role out of the bullpen if the Yankees advance to the World Series. The Cuban hurler allowed five earned runs in four innings in his first start of September but then settled down to allow only one run while walking seven and fanning 18 in his final three outings (two starts) over 15 1/3 innings before being shut down with his flexor strain.
New York Yankees left-hander Nestor Cortes (elbow) has continued a throwing program as he hopes to rejoin the club if they advance to the American League Championship Series, and manager Aaron Boone said that Cortes upped the intensity of his throwing session on Thursday. It remains to be seen what type of role the 29-year-old southpaw would have if the Yankees advance and he joins the ALCS roster, but the most likely scenario is that he's used out of the bullpen. He's recovering from flexor strain in his left elbow that has kept him out since Sept. 18. Cortes gave up five earned runs in four innings in a start against the St. Louis Cardinals on Sept. 1, but he had a 0.59 ERA with 18 strikeouts and seven walks in his final three appearances (two starts) before getting hurt in September. Thirty of Cortes' 31 outings in 2024 came in a starting role, and he posted a 3.77 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with 162 strikeouts in his 174 1/3 innings.
New York Yankees left-hander Nestor Cortes (elbow) threw for a second straight day on Monday after a successful throwing session on Sunday. Cortes landed on the injured list at the end of the regular season and was left off the roster for the American League Division Series against the Kansas City Royals due to a left-elbow flexor strain. He will continue to build up his arm with hopes of rejoining the Yankees' roster if they advance to the AL Championship Series. The 29-year-old southpaw won't be guaranteed a starting role if the Yankees advance, with right-hander Luis Gil expected to re-enter the rotation if the team advances. After allowing five earned runs in four innings in his first start of September, Cortes turned things around in his last three regular-season outings (two starts), giving up only one earned run in 15 1/3 innings while walking seven and striking out 18.
Nestor Cortes
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