Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
New York Post
Nestor Cortes wants to stay with Yankees as trade rumors swirl
By Dan Martin,
7 hours ago
PHILADELPHIA — As of Monday evening, Nestor Cortes was still listed as the Yankees’ starting pitcher for their series finale against the Phillies on Wednesday.
Before the Yankees faced the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Monday night, Cortes walked into the Yankee clubhouse and then threw a bullpen session, just like he typically would to get ready for a start.
Nestor Cortes wants to stay with the Yankees as trade rumors involving him swirl. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Still, he acknowledged he’s tuned into the rumors in advance of Tuesday’s trade deadline.
“It’s all over Twitter,’’ Cortes said of the reports on X and elsewhere that he could be dealt — including by The Post’s Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman. “I don’t think it’s anything concrete, but the word is out there. I’m aware of it.”
And he hopes it doesn’t happen.
“Of course I want to stay,” Cortes said of his desire to remain a Yankee. “It’s a winning team, it’s the team I was drafted by. They’ve given me many opportunities and I’ve done a lot of good, some bad, but I’m still fighting, still trying to claw my way up to being a proven starter and winning for this team.”
That could become more challenging with the trade rumors swirling.
“I’ve done a pretty good job blocking it out,’’ Cortes said. “I’m still on this team [and] still trying to win for this team. I’m preparing for Wednesday. … That’s my focus.”
Nestor Cortes pitches during the Yankees-Red Sox game on July 26, 2024. Getty Images
He acknowledged though, he’s “playing it day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute.”
Aaron Boone said it’s an “unsettling time” for players.
And it comes after Cortes took to X during the All-Star break in defense of the Yankees organization, writing: “Everyone talks down about the Yanks, but they wanna be us. It’s a privilege to wear pinstripes. Every year we are in contention. I’m blessed to be able to compete for a playoff spot and always be contenders at the end.”
Asked what led him to post the message, Cortes said Monday, “We compete here for a championship every single year. We haven’t had the run we wanted to for the last few years I’ve been here, but it was part of me being a Yankee, my desire to be here and desire to win. It just came from a place where I’m a competitor and I want what’s best for my team. I wanted to show and express that I really want to be here and I really care. I want to win.”
In the meantime, as of Monday, he waited.
“If it happens, it happens,” Cortes said. “I’m not worried about it. I’ll try to pitch the best I can.”
For the latest in sports, top headlines, breaking news and more, visit nypost.com/sports/
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.
Comments / 0