Left-handed pitcher Nestor Cortes Jr. has agreed to a major league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, multiple outlets confirmed Wednesday. Cortes, who has not pitched in 2026 while recovering from offseason surgery to repair a torn tendon in his throwing arm, is nearing a return to Major League Baseball.
The 31-year-old pitcher posted a video to X on Tuesday showcasing his throwing for major league scouts. The deal, first reported by Fansided, comes after a difficult 2025 season where Cortes recorded a 6.29 ERA across stints with the Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres, also missing time due to left biceps tendinitis.
Cortes previously spent parts of five seasons with the New York Yankees from 2019 to 2024. After re-signing with the Yankees on a minor league pact ahead of the 2021 season, he established himself in the rotation, posting a 2.90 ERA as a swingman. In 2022, he earned his first All-Star selection with a 12-4 record and a 2.44 ERA in 28 starts. An injury-plagued 2023 limited his appearances, but he returned to make 30 starts in 2024 before landing on the injured list prior to the postseason.
He was traded to the Brewers in the offseason following the 2024 season, but injuries and inconsistency led to him making only eight starts last year. In a World Series appearance, Cortes gave up a walk-off home run in Game 1.
Cortes is expected to provide depth for the Phillies, who did not acquire a starting pitcher before the trade deadline. According to NBC Sports Philadelphia's Jim Salisbury, Cortes will require some time to regain game readiness following his layoff. The Phillies currently hold the second wild card spot in the National League, 1.5 games ahead of the Padres.