Yankees To Trade Nestor Cortes? Insider Predicts His Departure

The New York Yankees, despite a recent slump, remain in contention for the American League East title, just a game and a half behind the Baltimore Orioles with a 60-42 record. With the July 30 trade deadline approaching, Chris Kirschner of The Athletic suggests the Yankees may consider trading pitcher Nestor Cortes to bolster their lineup with a starting infielder or left fielder.

Kirschner draws parallels to the Yankees’ 2022 trade, in which they sent Jordan Montgomery to the Cardinals in exchange for center fielder Harrison Bader. He speculates that the team could view Cortes as expendable in the postseason rotation, similar to their assessment of Montgomery. Kirschner notes that Cortes’ extra year of team control could make him an attractive trade piece.

“The Yankees made a similar move in 2022 when they traded Jordan Montgomery to the Cardinals for center fielder Harrison Bader,” he said. “The thinking was that Montgomery wouldn’t be part of the Yankees’ playoff rotation, and general manager Brian Cashman wanted to shore up a key spot on the defensive line. Cortes comes with another year of team control, and he’s still valuable. They could use another starting infielder or left fielder in exchange for Cortes.”

Despite the team’s recent struggles and trade rumors, Cortes took to social media on July 16 to express his pride in being a Yankee. He emphasized the privilege of wearing pinstripes and the team’s consistent competitiveness as indicating his desire to remain with the organization.

“Everyone talks down to the Yanks, but they want to be us. It’s a privilege to wear pinstripes. Every year we’re in the running. I’m blessed to compete for a playoff spot and always be a contender at the end,” the Yankees pitcher tweeted.

However, the Yankees’ potential postseason rotation already features strong pitchers like Gerrit Cole, Marcus Stroman and Luis Gil, which could make Cortes redundant. Cortes, who was the Opening Day starter, has a 3.99 ERA in 21 starts this season, with some inconsistency in recent performances. His career statistics include allowing 11 earned runs in his last 8 2/3 innings over two starts.

Cortes’ 2023 season was limited to 12 starts with a 4.97 ERA, further putting his potential trade value and the Yankees’ decision-making process into context as the deadline approaches.

The Yankees are desperate for a deal?

The Yankees’ offensive output has noticeably declined in July, falling to 18th in runs scored after ranking in the top 10 for the previous three months. The decline has underscored the need for additional power, with potential replacements being considered for struggling infielders DJ LeMahieu and Gleyber Torres.

LeMahieu’s performance has been particularly concerning, with a .181 batting average through 40 games this season. Torres, who has generally struggled with a .229 average, has shown signs of improvement of late, batting .303 in his last 10 games.

On July 9, General Manager Brian Cashman addressed the media about the team’s approach to the July 30 transfer deadline. He indicated a willingness to consider several options to address the team’s weaknesses, and acknowledged the need for improvement in several areas.

Cashman drew parallels to the 2022 season, in which the Yankees started strong but faltered in the second half and were ultimately eliminated from the playoffs by the Houston Astros. He expressed hope that the team’s early-season success would provide a buffer as they navigate their current challenges.

The Yankees GM reflected on the team’s 2022 trade deadline acquisitions of Andrew Benintendi, Frankie Montas and Harrison Bader, which didn’t yield the desired results. However, he suggested the outcome could be different in 2024.

The situation underscores the need for the Yankees to make strategic decisions during the trade deadline to avoid a repeat of last year’s disappointing result and maintain their competitive position in the exciting division battle.

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