Nestor Cortes Jr. Landing Spots: 3 best fits for ex-Yankees All-Star after short Padres stint

Nestor Cortes Jr. heads into this offseason in a very different position than the one he held just a couple years ago. The left-hander who became an All-Star in 2022 hasn’t been able to stay healthy since and his 2025 season only added to the uncertainty.

After opening the year in Milwaukee’s system and spending most of it rehabbing, Cortes was moved to San Diego at the deadline; a gamble by the Padres that never had time to pay off.

He managed only a brief run before landing back on the injured list with a biceps issue and by October he was undergoing surgery to repair a torn tendon in his throwing arm.

But the league knows what Cortes looks like when he’s right: unpredictable tempo, layered pitch mix and a knack for making good hitters uncomfortable. Three teams make sense for a comeback try.

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#1. New York Yankees

If Cortes is going to rebuild himself, there’s logic in doing it where he first became a frontline arm. The Yankees know how to manage him, know his preparation habits and know how to structure his workload so he’s not rushed.

They also have the medical and performance infrastructure to guide a long recovery without needing him to contribute immediately.

New York needs cost-controlled rotation depth behind its top arms and Cortes offers exactly that if he returns to form by midseason.

A one-year, incentive-based deal allows the Yankees to bring him along slowly and gives Cortes a stable runway.

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#2. Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays remain one of the league’s best destinations for pitchers coming off surgery because they don’t force full workloads before a pitcher is ready.

Tampa Bay can ease Cortes into shorter stints, refine his pitch shapes and build him back into a starter once the arm strength returns.

His game deception, angle changes and command more than velocity fits the Rays’ development style perfectly.

They’ve revived similar profiles before and Cortes offers more upside than most rehab signings.

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#3. San Francisco Giants

San Francisco has become a soft landing spot for pitchers who need to reset physically and mentally. Oracle Park’s dimensions help lefties who want to avoid loud contact and the Giants’ pitching group has had success restoring command and sequencing for mid-career arms.

Cortes wouldn’t be pushed to throw big innings early; he’d be placed on a controlled build-up with the option to shift between bulk relief and shorter starts.

For a pitcher trying to re-establish stability after two injury-riddled seasons, the Giants provide a calm setting and a clear development plan, which are those two things he needs as much as a contract.