Nestor Cortes Jr.: A Trade Too Soon or a Justified Move?
Months after his infamous World Series collapse, Nestor Cortes Jr. remains a target for Yankees fans who refuse to let him live it down. Now a member of the Milwaukee Brewers, Cortes still finds himself in the crosshairs, his name dragged back into the spotlight anytime his new team mentions him. But was the Yankees’ decision to move on from Cortes a knee-jerk reaction, or was it a necessary step to revamp their rotation?
The Nightmare That Won’t Fade
Game 3 of the 2024 World Series was supposed to be Cortes’ shot at redemption. The Yankees, already down 2-0 to the Dodgers, desperately needed a win. Instead, they got a disaster. With two outs, Freddie Freeman stepped up and crushed a cutter into the right-field stands, effectively sealing the game and shifting the momentum of the series for good.
That one pitch didn’t just cost the Yankees a game—it cost Cortes his reputation. Fans immediately blamed him for the team’s downfall, and when New York traded him to Milwaukee in December, it was clear the front office had also lost faith.
The Relentless Backlash
Since his departure, Yankees fans have ensured Cortes never forgets his blunder. Any mention of his name, whether by the Brewers or an MLB post, is hijacked with reminders of his World Series failure. Social media remains merciless, with fans posting sarcastic jabs like:
“Isn’t it crazy how with just 1 pitch you can be sent to another team?”
“Threw that same pitch to Freddie and the Yankees said you’re a ‘free man.’”
“Only game-winning grand slam EVER given up in World Series history… they sent you to the Brewers. I would’ve sent you to the Island of Misfit Toys.”
Some even suggested he went to Milwaukee intentionally to avoid the pressure of another playoff run: “He blew it in the World Series, so he decided to go to the one team that he knows will never make it to the World Series.”
Did the Yankees Give Up Too Soon?
The Yankees’ decision to trade Cortes was as much about performance as it was about perception. While his World Series meltdown became the defining moment of his New York career, his 2024 regular season wasn’t exactly stellar either. His ERA hovered in the mid-4s, and his strikeout numbers were down from previous years. Given the Yankees’ urgency to win now, moving on from a pitcher with lingering postseason baggage made sense.
However, some argue that the Yankees were too quick to cut ties. Cortes had previously been an All-Star and had delivered strong performances when healthy. The Brewers saw enough potential to bring him in, banking on a fresh start and a return to form.
Cortes himself has taken the criticism in stride, acknowledging his struggles while focusing on proving himself in Milwaukee. But in the unforgiving world of Yankees baseball, redemption isn’t handed out—it’s earned.
The question remains: Will Cortes silence his critics with a resurgence in Milwaukee, or will his World Series collapse forever define his legacy?