1:30pm: The Yankees introduced that Cortes has been positioned on the 15-day injured listing as a consequence of a flexor pressure in his left elbow. Stroman will begin tonight’s recreation in his place, and Poteet has been recalled from Triple-A to take Cortes’ spot on the roster.
The harm will eradicate Cortes as a consideration for the American League Division Sequence on the very least, although flexor strains are not often short-term accidents. It’s truthful to wonder if Cortes might be an choice for the Yankees at any level within the postseason. Supervisor Aaron Boone will possible present extra element when he subsequent meets with the media.
9:25am: The Yankees have punched their ticket to the postseason however are going through a doubtlessly worrisome harm situation, as lefty Nestor Cortes — who had been slated to begin tonight’s recreation in opposition to the Orioles — is present process an MRI to judge his left elbow, as first reported by Jack Curry of the YES Community.
Assuming that takes him out of consideration to take the mound, the Yanks may go together with Marcus Stroman (who lately moved to the ’pen) or name up an arm from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Proper-handers Cody Poteet, Yoendrys Gomez and Will Warren are all on the 40-man roster and all recent. Poteet has pitched probably the most large league innings of that trio this season (21) and had probably the most success as nicely (2.14 ERA). Curry provides that Poteet is headed to the Bronx, suggesting he’ll get the nod, although there’s no official phrase from the staff simply but.
Cortes, 29, has pitched a career-high 174 1/3 innings within the majors this season and been fairly efficient alongside the way in which. He’s began 30 video games (additionally a career-high) and notched a 3.77 earned run common whereas fanning a stable 22.8% of his opponents in opposition to a terrific 5.5% stroll fee. Although he’s a pronounced fly-ball pitcher (31.1% grounder fee), Cortes has scaled again on among the house run troubles which have plagued him in his profession; he entered the season having averaged 1.49 round-trippers per 9 innings pitched however has scaled that again to a extra palatable (however nonetheless greater than common) 1.24 mark in 2024.
It’s not clear that Cortes can be part of the Yankees’ postseason rotation, however he’d definitely play a key position within the bullpen even when the staff opted to go together with Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon and certainly one of Luis Gil or Clarke Schmidt within the high three spots. (Cole and Rodon are locks, well being allowing.) Cortes is not any stranger to working in aid. He’s primarily been a starter in current seasons however has nonetheless seen 37% of his profession appearances are available in a aid setting.
The Yankees have a pair of veteran left-handed choices within the ’pen regardless, with Tim Hill and Tim Mayza each on the roster, however neither can miss bats on the similar stage as Cortes. Mayza additionally carries alarming platoon splits, making him extra ultimate for strict left-on-left matchups. Cortes would even be an apparent choice to present supervisor Aaron Boone some size out of the bullpen within the occasion of a brief begin throughout postseason play.
All of these situations at the moment are on maintain because the Yankees await phrase on Cortes’ apparently ailing elbow. Taking a step again to take a look at the larger image for Cortes himself, a severe harm can be about as poorly timed as attainable (not that there’s ever a “good” time for a serious well being setback). He’s headed into his remaining offseason of arbitration eligibility and due a increase on this 12 months’s $3.95MM wage. An harm that threatens a good portion of his 2025 season may go away Cortes as a non-tender candidate, provided that he’s slated to change into a free agent following the 2025 season. And, if there’s something at play that impacts his 2025 availability, that’d clearly reduce quick what must be his platform season upfront of free company, the place he’d stand as a transparent candidate for a multi-year cope with good well being.
