The Philadelphia Phillies' most recent addition could be a good one.
The Philadelphia Phillies made a late-season addition on Wednesday, signing pitcher Nestor Cortes to bolster their pitching depth.
Is it possible we will never even see Cortes, who was optioned to Low-A Clearwater after the move? Sure. He hasn't pitched since last year when he made just eight starts between the Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres before suffering a torn biceps, and he logged a bloated 6.29 ERA during that span.
But when Cortes has been good, he's been really good, and with the Phillies desperately needing some help in their bullpen (it's hard to imagine Cortes starting this season), the left-hander could serve as a sneaky good pickup.
Cortes is most known for his run with the New York Yankees, which actually featured multiple stints. He first pitched for the Yankees in 2019 before returning in 2021, where he would go on to establish himself as an All-Star the following year.
Across 126 outings and 85 starts in the Bronx, Cortes posted a 3.61 ERA and 9.1 K/9, incredibly respectable numbers.
Nestor Cortes. Credit: David Frerker-Imagn Images.Is the 31-year-old the same pitcher any longer? Probably not, but he's certainly worth a flier, and he definitely has the moxie you want during a postseason push.
The Phillies signed Brad Keller last winter. He's out for the season. They acquired Caleb Kilian at the MLB trade deadline. He's on the shelf.
Yes, the addition of Brooks Raley was a big one, but there is no question Philadelphia needed another arm in its bullpen, and Cortes could be just what the doctor ordered.
Of course, we'll need to see how Cortes performs in the minor leagues first. There is a chance that he flames out and never sees the light of day in a Phillies uniform this year. But he's certainly worth monitoring.
Philadelphia is playing some terrific baseball at just the right time, and contributions from Aaron Nola and Andrew Painter are a big part of that.
Suddenly, the Phillies' starting rotation appears to have been stabilized, which is more than significant as we move into the stretch run.
Philadelphia just needs more help in the later innings, and Cortes may very well provide Don Mattingly's club with an unexpected solution.
