The Phillies have added a veteran reinforcement to their shallow pitching depth.
The club signed Nestor Cortes to a major league deal Wednesday, the Phillies announced. Cortes was optioned to single-A Clearwater. To clear a spot for him on the 40-man roster, right-hander Brian Keller was designated for assignment.
Cortes, a 31-year-old left-hander, last pitched on Sept. 3, 2025, before he was sidelined with a biceps tear that required surgery. Prior to the injury, he had a 6.29 ERA in eight starts with the Brewers and Padres. In his eight-year career, five of which Cortes spent with the Yankees, he has a 3.94 ERA with a 1.19 WHIP. He was an All-Star in 2022.
Cortes lacks elite velocity, with his average fastball clocking 90.1 mph in 2025. He relies on deception and misdirection in his windup, often varying his timing and even pausing in the middle of his windup to throw off hitters. He has a four-pitch mix of four-seam, cutter, changeup, and sweeper.
Cortes posted a video on X on Tuesday throwing for scouts.
The lefty has playoff experience with the Yankees in 2022 and 2024. He surrendered a walk-off grand slam to Freddie Freeman in the 10th inning of Game 1 of the 2024 World Series, which the Dodgers went on to win in five games.
Interim manager Don Mattingly said he wasn’t sure yet what role Cortes will play for the team.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen Nestor pitch, besides a few pitches on TV and things like that. Never seen him in person, so we’ll see,” Mattingly said. “I think it’s depth. It’s another guy that’s got experience. And obviously when the signing, I think he’s throwing the ball pretty good.”
The Phillies’ starting pitching depth has been thin all season. They released Taijuan Walker in April after extended struggles. Rookie Andrew Painter was optioned to triple-A in June to work on his fastball, and while he was with the IronPigs, the Phillies relied on Alan Rangel and bullpen games to cover the No. 5 spot in the rotation.
Painter was recalled on July 31 and has shown improvement in the four starts since, and the Phillies opted not to add a starting pitcher at the trade deadline. Instead, they brought in second baseman Luis Arraez along with relievers Caleb Kilian and Brooks Raley. Kilian hit the injured list with an oblique strain after just four appearances with the Phillies.
Last September, the Phillies signed Walker Buehler as a depth starter ahead of their 2025 playoff push. To take stress off the Phillies’ starting pitching staff, they moved to a six-man rotation down the stretch.
But a team using a six-man rotation can in turn tax their bullpen, because it means one fewer relief arm. The Phillies have already had issues with an overburdened relief corps this season, like last week in St. Louis when their only arm available for the ninth was Jonathan Bowlan. If that game went to extras, Mattingly was planning on putting backup catcher Garrett Stubbs on the mound, essentially conceding the game to the Cardinals.
Mattingly said “in theory” the Phillies could go to a six-man rotation, but it’s also a risk for a team without a secure playoff position. The Phillies entered Thursday’s off day with the second wild-card spot in the National League, but the Padres and Diamondbacks are right on their heels, trailing by two and three games, respectively.
“Depends where you’re at in the race and all that,” Mattingly said. “I guess in theory, I think teams that do it are probably more comfortable where they’re at in the race. But you never know.”
Extra bases
Tanner Banks (left forearm strain) threw a live batting practice session on Tuesday and is scheduled for another tentatively on Friday. … Jesús Luzardo (11-5, 3.23 ERA) is scheduled to start Friday’s series opener against St. Louis. The Cardinals have not announced their starter yet.
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