ESPN baseball reporter. Covered the Washington Wizards from 2014 to 2016 and the Washington Nationals from 2016 to 2018 for The Washington Post before covering the Los Angeles Dodgers and MLB for the Los Angeles Times from 2018 to 2024.
NEW YORK — Nestor Cortes knows there’s a long-term injury risk if he pitches in the World Series just one month after being diagnosed with a flexor strain, often a precursor to a serious elbow injury. Pitching could cost Cortes, a free agent after next season, millions of dollars.
But he expects to be on the New York Yankees‘ World Series roster for Game 1 on Friday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. It’s a risk — after conversations with team officials, trainers, his agents and his family — that he’s willing to take.
“We have weighed in the consequences this can lead up to,” Cortes said, “but if I have a ring and then a year off of baseball, then so be it.”
The odds were against Cortes pitching again in 2024 when he was placed on the injured list less than a month ago. It would’ve taken the Yankees reaching the World Series to give him enough time. Even then, though, chances were low.
But the 29-year-old Cortes was determined. So, after not throwing for 10 days and receiving a PRP injection, he began ramping up. He threw from 60 feet then 90 feet then 120 feet. Then, finally, off the mound. On Tuesday, he threw a 28-pitch live bullpen session at Yankee Stadium against a group of hitters that included Oswaldo Cabrera and Austin Wells. Afterward, he said he expects to be on the Yankees’ World Series roster as long as he wakes up Wednesday without any unusual soreness.
“It’s as good as it could be,” Cortes said. “I think when the adrenaline kicks in and given the fact that we’re on the biggest stage of baseball, I think I’ll be able to do it. I think given how versatile I am and different roles I’ve been in throughout my career, I’m going to be up for the task and ready to go.”
Yankees manager Aaron Boone on Monday said there was a “good chance” Cortes would be on the roster. On Tuesday, he said the Yankees are considering carrying 13 pitchers and 13 position players for the World Series after having 12 pitchers available for the AL Championship Series. Cortes would presumably replace a position player if they decide on 13 pitchers. He would replace another pitcher if they go with 14 position players again.
Cortes hasn’t pitched since Sept. 18. Seven days later, he was scratched from a scheduled start and placed on the injured list, ending his regular season. A starter for nearly the entire season — 30 of his 31 appearances were starts — he would pitch out of the Yankees’ bullpen in the World Series ready to throw “20 to 30 pitches.” Pitching back-to-back days is unlikely, though he said it could happen if the first day’s workload is light.
The Yankees carried two left-handed relievers — Tim Hill and Tim Mayza — for their first two playoff series. Hill has appeared in seven of the Yankees’ nine postseason games, including all five ALCS games, and has allowed one earned run across 5⅔ innings. Mayza has logged 1⅓ innings in two outings in the playoffs.
The trio — should Cortes land on the roster — would be tasked with quieting a potent group of left-handed hitters that includes Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy, and Shohei Ohtani, the presumptive NL MVP.
“I’m going to have to bring out the kitchen sink on him,” Cortes said of Ohtani. “And not only him, but all the other lefties that they have in that lineup.”
The days leading up to the 2025 NHL trade deadline were a furious final sprint as contenders looked to stock up for a postseason run while rebuilding clubs added prospects and draft capital.
After the overnight Brock Nelson blockbuster Thursday, Friday lived up to expectations, with Mikko Rantanen, Brad Marchand and other high-profile players finishing the day on different teams than they started with. All told, NHL teams made 24 trades on deadline day involving 47 players.
Which teams and players won the day? Who might not feel as well about the situation after trade season? Reporters Ryan S. Clark, Kristen Shilton and Greg Wyshynski identify the biggest winners and losers of the 2025 NHL trade deadline:
There are some who saw what the Carolina Hurricanes did at the trade deadline — or perhaps failed to do after they traded Mikko Rantanen — and believe they’re cooked when it comes to the Stanley Cup playoffs. However, based on the projections from Stathletes, the Canes remain the team with the highest chances of winning the Cup, at 16.7%.
Standing before them on Sunday are the Winnipeg Jets (5 p.m. ET, ESPN+). The Jets had a relatively quiet deadline, adding Luke Schenn and Brandon Tanev, though sometimes these additions are the types of small tweaks that can push a contender over the edge. As it stands, the Jets enter their showdown against the Canes with the sixth-highest Cup chances, at 8.7%.
Carolina has made two trips to the Cup Final: a loss to the Detroit Red Wings in 2002 and a win over the Edmonton Oilers in 2006. The Canes have reached the conference finals three times since (2009, 2019, 2023). Winnipeg has yet to make the Cup Final, and was defeated 4-1 in the 2018 Western Conference finals by the Vegas Golden Knights in the club’s lone trip to the penultimate stage.
Both clubs are due. Will this be their year?
There is a lot of runway left until the final day of the season on April 17, and we’ll help you keep track of it all here on the NHL playoff watch. As we traverse the final stretch, we’ll provide detail on all the playoff races — along with the teams jockeying for position in the 2025 NHL draft lottery.
Points: 43 Regulation wins: 12 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 17 Points pace: 54.3 Next game: vs. NSH (Tuesday) Playoff chances: ~0% Tragic number: 8
Race for the No. 1 pick
The NHL uses a draft lottery to determine the order of the first round, so the team that finishes in last place is not guaranteed the No. 1 selection. As of 2021, a team can move up a maximum of 10 spots if it wins the lottery, so only 11 teams are eligible for the draw for the No. 1 pick. Full details on the process can be found here. Sitting No. 1 on the draft board for this summer is Matthew Schaefer, a defenseman for the OHL’s Erie Otters.
Hintz extended his stick toward Henrique, whose wrist shot sent the puck under Hintz’s visor during his club’s 5-4 loss to the Oilers. He was on the ice, with his face in a towel, as the team’s medical staff assessed him and helped him skate toward the dressing room.
After the loss, Dallas coach Peter DeBoer said Hintz was at a local hospital, receiving tests. The coach added that the initial report was fairly optimistic for Hintz, 28, who has 25 goals and 52 points.
“Everyone’s optimistic that it’s not ‘serious, serious,'” DeBoer said. “But we won’t know until we get testing.”
The short-handed Stars rallied from a 5-1 deficit before eventually losing. Trade deadline acquisition Mikko Rantanen had a goal and an assist in his debut for Dallas, which had its four-game winning streak stopped. Wyatt Johnston, Jamie Benn and Matt Dumba also scored for the Stars.