The New York Yankees are definitely in need of a boost at the MLB trade deadline, and thanks to a rash of injuries that have befallen their starting rotation throughout the season, they could use another pitcher.
Of course, there may not be many high-end starters available before the end of the month, so the Yankees may have to resort to viewing some low-cost options.
Well, Jon Heyman of The New York Post has linked New York to a rather wild reunion with a former fan favorite: Nestor Cortes.
“Nestor Cortes is a trade candidate with the amazing Brewers actually having a starter surplus. Might the Yankees bring him back?” Heyman posted on X.
Cortes has been sidelined since late March with an elbow injury and is expected back in early August, which makes him a potentially viable piece for the stretch run. But given that the Yankees already have enough injured arms, would they really want to bring back Cortes?
New York traded Cortes to the Brewers in exchange for closer Devin Williams over the winter. Cortes had spent two separate stints in the Bronx, with his latter run definitely being the more successful one. When healthy, he was terrific, particularly in 2022 when he made the All-Star team with a 2.44 ERA.
However, the 30-year-old has a very checkered medical history and would absolutely represent a risky addition. And honestly, if he were really that valuable, why would Milwaukee — a team firmly in World Series contention — move him?
Yes, the Brewers have a ton of starting pitching, but you can never have enough arms in the pennant race. Cortes’ return would at least give Milwaukee a decent depth option, so it seems hard to imagine the Brewers would actually trade him.
The Yankees will almost certainly be scouring the market for a starting pitcher, but the idea of them reuniting with Cortes seems more rooted in fantasy than reality.
