The Milwaukee Brewers have turned lots of heads in the offseason. For one, they just parted ways with star closer Devin Williams, whom the Brewers traded to the New York Yankees along for pitcher Nestor Cortes and infielder Caleb Durbin.
Cortes isn’t new to changing teams in the big leagues, as he has played for the Baltimore Orioles and the Seattle Mariners before, but his second stint with the Yankees surely was a memorable one for the lefty hurler.
He spent the last five MLB seasons with the Yankees, including the 2022 campaign in which he became an All-Star and finished eighth in the American League Cy Young race.
Nestor Cortes delivers message to Milwaukee Brewers after trade
Understandably, Cortes was feeling emotional after the trade that sent him to the National League, to the Brewers in particular.
“Seems like I’ve written this too many times about NY,” Cortes opened his farewell letter to the Yankees that he posted on Instagram.
“But I’m always grateful and proud of being groomed by the Yankee organization. A city full of life and tremendous support from the fans. Where us as players leave everything out on the field regardless of the outcome because the city is breathing and living by every win. With such a unique journey. I’d do it all over again if I had to. A 36 rounder in 2013. Through the years of being an organizational minor league pitcher, to having 3 different stints with the team, to becoming a MLB all-star, and endless opportunities to prove myself time after time,” added Cortes before talking about the new chapter of his baseball career with the Brewers.
“With that being said I’m very excited to join the Brewers organization with so much young talent and a team that’s always competing for playoff contention. I’m ready to take on any role and just be a stepping stone to lead the team in the best of my ability every opportunity I get to pitch. Let’s go BrewCrew!!
The 30-year-old Cortes went 9-10 to go with a 3.77 ERA and 3.84 FIP across 31 appearances (30 starts) in his final season with the Yankees.
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