Insider "Won't Be Shocked" If Yankees Trade Away Rotation Arm

Yes, the New York Yankees are buyers at this trade deadline, but according to insider Jon Heyman, they're also willing to deal away one of their long-time starting rotation arms, Nestor Cortes, in order to get a deal done.

Nestor Cortes is a name that’s definitely out there. Won’t be shocked if he’s moved. Haven’t confirmed Tommy Edman is a target for Cortes but NYY does like him.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 29, 2024

Heyman says Cortes's name is "definitely out there" and he "won't be shocked" if the left-hander is moved.

Cortes has had a pretty serviceable season for the Bronx Bombers, with a 4.13 ERA, a 1.20 WHIP and a 116:26 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 124.1 innings. But it hasn't ended up in results in the win column for the Yanks, as Cortes is just 4-9. He's especially struggled over his last seven starts, posting a 5.40 ERA with a 1.42 WHIP. In his last start, he appeared disgusted that manager Aaron Boone was coming out to remove him from the game in the 5th inning.

Nestor Cortes not happy soon as he sees Aaron Boone coming out to take him out of the game #REPBX #Yankees pic.twitter.com/Lm35k6lOs9
— Lucasparmenter23 (@Lucasparmenter0) July 27, 2024

Cortes was an All-Star as recently as 2022, when he posted a 2.44 ERA and a 12-4 mark, his second straight season with an ERA under 3.00. He even finished 8th in Cy Young balloting.

But things came crashing to earth in 2023, when Cortes managed only 12 starts due to injury, and posted a 4.97 ERA when he was on the mound.

It appears that his days in Pinstripes could be numbered as the Yankees discuss him in trades.