Nestor Cortes Joins Phillies on $1.5M Deal; Brian Keller Designated

Nestor Cortes signed a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies that pays $1.5 million in the majors and $250,000 in the minors.

Nestor Cortes and the Philadelphia Phillies finalized a one-year contract on Wednesday that includes a $1.5 million salary for time spent in the major leagues. The agreement stipulates a $250,000 payout while the veteran left-hander remains in the minor leagues. As an immediate component of this transaction, the 31-year-old southpaw agreed to be optioned to Class A Clearwater. To create the necessary opening on the 40-man roster, the Phillies designated right-handed pitcher Brian Keller for assignment.

Cortes enters this new chapter following a 2025 campaign split between the Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres, where he posted a combined 2-4 record and a 6.29 ERA across eight starts. His most recent appearance in a major league game occurred on Sept. 3 with San Diego. The previous season was heavily disrupted by physical setbacks, beginning with a left flexor tendon strain that kept him off the mound from April 4 until Aug. 6. His tenure with the Padres, who acquired him from the Brewers via trade on July 31, ended prematurely due to left biceps tendinitis.

Career Statistics and All-Star Pedigree

Over eight major league seasons, Cortes has compiled a 35-25 career record and a 3.94 ERA. His workload includes 94 starts and 49 relief appearances for five different organizations. He debuted with Baltimore in 2018 before moving to the New York Yankees in 2019. After a stint with Seattle in 2020, he returned to the Yankees for a four-year period spanning 2021 through 2024.

The peak of his statistical output arrived in 2022, a season in which he earned All-Star honors. During that year, the left-hander produced a 12-4 record complemented by a 2.44 ERA. However, his 2024 postseason experience was marked by a high-profile struggle; after missing over a month of action, he returned for the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. In Game 1 of that series, he surrendered a walk-off grand slam to Freddie Freeman in the bottom of the 10th inning.

Roster Adjustments and Minor League Assignment

The decision to option Cortes to Clearwater allows the Phillies to evaluate his recovery in a competitive environment. The 31-year-old pitcher brings experience from 143 total major league games to the Philadelphia system. By removing Brian Keller from the 40-man roster, the front office prioritized the acquisition of a left-handed starter with a history of high-leverage experience.

Cortes has demonstrated versatility throughout his career, alternating between the rotation and the bullpen. His 2025 statistics reflect the impact of his injuries, as he was limited to just eight starts total between his time in Milwaukee and San Diego. The split-contract structure provides the Phillies with financial flexibility while securing a veteran arm who has previously maintained a sub-3.00 ERA over a full championship season. The move to Clearwater marks his first professional assignment since his season-ending injury in September of the previous year.