Nestor Cortes signed a deal to pitch with the Phillies. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
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“Nasty” Nestor Cortes officially signed with the Phillies on Friday. But when will his nastiness arrive in Philadelphia?
It could be a couple weeks, give or take.
The one-year deal will cost the Phils $1.5 million if Cortes reaches the big leagues and $250,000 if he stays in the minors. His first stop will be Class A Clearwater, where he’ll continue his rehab. He needed surgery to repair a torn left biceps in October, and it’s been almost a year since his last MLB appearance on Sept. 3, 2025.
Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly said the 31-year-old lefty has thrown several extended bullpen sessions, including a live one on Friday.
Here’s a sneak-peek at Cortes at work a few days prior to his Phillies signing:
According to Mattingly, Cortes “says he’s ready to roll.” But will he roll as a starter or a reliever? Cortes has primarily been a starting pitcher, with 94 games started in his career.
Earlier this season, Mattingly hinted to deploying a six-man rotation, but that may not be the wisest move with a playoff race heating up. Plus, Aaron Nola and Andrew Painter both have pitched well of late, solidifying the rotation.
The Phillies greatest need is a bullpen piece – specifically a lefty – and Mattingly has had few lockdown relievers other than Jhoan Duran all season.
Ultimately, Cortes gives Mattingly a flex option – a starter, a bulk guy or even a specialist – while adding a fresh arm to a dog-tired ‘pen.
“I’m not sure the plan is trying to get built to be a starter,” Mattingly told the media on Friday. “That’s kind of a long build. That’s throwing, getting to 75 to 90 pitches, four days in between every one of those. So I think it’s getting going, build him up, at least to a bulk grow, go from there.”
A left flexor tendon strain and left biceps tendinitis decimated Cortes’ 2025 season. He made just eight appearances – all starts – going 2-4 with a 6.29 ERA.
Cortes spent the previous seven seasons with the Yankees and became an All-Star in 2022. He has a 35-25 career record with a 3.94 ERA.
But Cortes’ most memorable moment isn’t a good one: He came out of the bullpen in Game 1 of the 2024 World Series to face the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman and threw the first walk-off grand slam in World Series history. Phillies and Yankees fans please look away:
