Philadelphia Phillies add to pitching depth with rare August signing

Sixteen days after the trade deadline, the Philadelphia Phillies have added to their pitching depth with a free-agent signing.

According to multiple reports, the team signed long-time New York Yankees left-hander Nestor Cortes to a major-league deal on Aug. 19.

The 31-year-old has not pitched since Sept. 3, 2025. He had surgery for a biceps tear. Last year, he had a 6.29 ERA in eight starts with the Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres.

Cortes, recognized for a stilted delivery in which he often balances with his right leg lifted for long periods mid-windup, has a career 3.94 ERA over eight seasons. He best season was in 2022 when at age 27 he had a 2.44 ERA over 158 ⅓ innings with the Yankees and earned a spot in the All-Star Game.

Cortes' last full season was in 2024 when he compiled a 3.77 ERA in 31 appearances (30 starts) with the Yankees.

It's unclear what role Cortes will fill for the Phillies over the final month and a half of the season. The club has lacked starting pitching depth, often relying on bullpen games to fill the fifth spot in the rotation after Zack Wheeler, Cristopher Sanchez, Jesus Luzardo and Aaron Nola earlier this season.

The team recalled Andrew Painter on July 31 to fill the No. 5 spot in the rotation. In four starts since then, he has displayed improved command and a stronger changeup. He has allowed 10 earned runs in 20 ⅓ innings.

Should the Phillies rotation suffer an injury, Cortes would likely be the first man up, supplanting minor-league depth options Alan Rangel and Brian Keller. In the meantime, he could replace long reliever Chase Shugart in the Phillies' bullpen or function as a sixth starter to reduce strain on the rotation entering the playoffs.

Last September, the Phillies signed Walker Buehler, who started twice over the final days of the season.

Brandon Holveck reports on high school sports for The News Journal. Contact him at bholveck@delawareonline.com.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Philadelphia Phillies add to pitching depth with rare August signing