What happened: The Philadelphia Phillies agreed to a major league contract with left-handed pitcher Nestor Cortes on Wednesday. Cortes has not pitched in 2026 after undergoing offseason surgery for a tendon tear in his throwing arm. The club optioned him to Single-A Clearwater to begin a ramp-up period.
Why it matters: Philadelphia adds an experienced arm for the stretch run after opting not to acquire a starting pitcher at the trade deadline. Cortes provides rotation depth as the team attempts to solidify its postseason positioning.
By the numbers: The Phillies hold the second National League wild-card spot, sitting 1.5 games ahead of the San Diego Padres and 6.5 contests behind the Chicago Cubs. Cortes posted a 6.29 ERA over eight starts in 2025 while splitting time between the Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres. He earned a 2022 All-Star nod with the New York Yankees, but surrendered a walk-off home run to Los Angeles Dodgers star Freddie Freeman in the 2024 World Series before being traded for Devin Williams alongside Caleb Durbin.
What to watch: Cortes will require time in the minors to rebuild his arm strength before joining the active roster. Philadelphia evaluates his progress while navigating the final weeks of the regular season.