Brewers general manager Matt Arnold said Friday that Cortes has had a "fully healthy offseason" after dealing with a flexor strain in his left elbow down the stretch of this past season, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
Arnold noted that the Brewers did extensive work on Cortes' medicals before acquiring him in the trade that sent Devin Williams to the Yankees, and the team is confident the southpaw is healthy. Cortes held a 3.77 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 162:39 K:BB over a career-high 174.1 regular-season innings with the Yankees in 2024.
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Brewers' Nestor Cortes: Traded to Milwaukee
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The Brewers acquired Cortes, Caleb Durbin and cash considerations from the Yankees on Friday in exchange for Devin Williams, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Cortes pitched well this past season when healthy, posting a 3.77 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 162:39 K:BB. He ended the regular season on the injured list with a flexor strain but was able to come back to make two relief appearances during the World Series. The Brewers are presumably comfortable with his health status and will be counting on him as part of their rotation in 2025. Cortes is arbitration-eligible for a final time this winter.
Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Included on World Series roster
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Cortes (elbow) was added to the Yankees' World Series roster Friday.
Cortes has been shelved since late September with a left flexor strain but had faced hitters a couple times over the past week and bounced back with no issues. The left-hander is expected to be used in relief by the Yankees, although it's unclear how many innings he might be able to go.
Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Trending toward World Series roster
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Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Monday that there's a "good chance" Cortes (elbow) will be on the team's World Series roster, Greg Joyce of the New York Post reports.
Cortes will throw another live batting practice session Tuesday and, as long as he gets through that with no concerns, it sounds like he'll be part of the Yankees' roster for the Fall Classic against the Dodgers. It's expected that Cortes would be used as a reliever, although Boone hasn't officially committed to that. The southpaw has been out since late September with a left flexor strain.
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Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Throws live BP
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Manager Aaron Boone said Saturday that Cortes (elbow) came away from his live batting practice session feeling good, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.
Cortes is slated to throw another round of BP within the next few days. Assuming he gets through that without any issues, it appears the left-hander has a good chance to be on the active roster if the Yankees advance to the World Series.
Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Throwing live batting practice
Rotowire
Cortes (elbow) will throw a live batting practice session Wednesday, Greg Joyce of the New York Post reports.
It will be something of a hybrid bullpen session/live batting practice session, as Cortes is slated to throw 10-to-15 pitches off the bullpen mound before throwing another 10-to-15 to hitters. If all goes well, Cortes could face hitters again this weekend. The southpaw has been out since late September with a flexor strain but has a chance to be on the Yankees' World Series roster, should they advance. Cortes hasn't started a game in nearly a month, so if he does return for the World Series, it seems likely to be as a reliever.
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Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Out for ALCS; World Series possible
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Cortes (elbow) is not on the Yankees' ALCS roster but is in play for the World Series, should they advance, Pete Caldera of The Bergen Record reports.
Manager Aaron Boone said Monday that he's "really excited" where Cortes is at in his recovery from a left flexor strain. The southpaw resumed throwing a little over a week ago and could face hitters by this weekend. Cortes has been shelved since late September.
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Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Ramps up intensity
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Cortes (elbow) has continued to throw and was able to increase the intensity in Thursday's session, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
Cortes maintains hope to pitch in the ALCS as the Yankees are a win away from advancing Thursday. The left-hander continues to make strides in his recovery from the flexor strain, but his availability for the rest of the playoffs remains up in the air.
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Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Throwing again Monday
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Cortes (elbow) played catch Monday for the second day in a row, Greg Joyce of the New York Post reports.
Cortes' session of catch Sunday was his first since being diagnosed with a left elbow flexor strain in late September, and the fact that he was back out there to throw again a day later is a good sign. The southpaw is hopeful to pitch in the ALCS if the Yankees are able to advance, but he still has numerous hurdles to clear before making that a reality.
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Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Catch goes well
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Cortes (elbow) played catch Sunday, which went well according to Yankees' pitching coach Matt Blake, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.
Cortes is working his way back from a left elbow flexor strain, and he's hopeful to pitch in the ALCS if New York is able to advance. His ability to throw with no issues Sunday is promising, and his next step will depend on how he responds Monday.
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Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Will play catch Sunday
Rotowire
Cortes (elbow) is slated to play catch Sunday, Jorge Castillo of ESPN.com reports.
Cortes is still hoping to be able to pitch at some point in the postseason if the Yankees are able to advance past the ALDS. The southpaw is dealing with a left elbow flexor strain and wasn't included on New York's roster for the divisional series. Cortes was pitching well before going down with the injury, giving up just one run over 15.1 innings while posting an 18:7 K:BB during his final three starts.
