The New York Yankees didn’t just dominate on the field this weekend—they might have also won the offseason, and it became crystal clear when they faced off against a familiar face.
Cortes’ Nightmarish Return
Former Yankee Nestor Cortes, now pitching for the Milwaukee Brewers, had a rough outing against his old team. In just two innings, he allowed eight earned runs and five home runs.
The Yankees didn’t waste any time taking advantage—Paul Goldschmidt, Cody Bellinger, and Aaron Judge hit three consecutive homers to start the game. Cortes’ velocity was noticeably down, and his signature pitch movement was missing. His fastball was flat, and his once-dominant cutter lacked its usual bite, making it easy for the Yankees to pounce.
By the time Milwaukee’s bullpen began warming up, the damage was already done. The Yankees added one more homer before the inning ended, giving Cortes a historic—and painful—outing.
Cashman’s Perfect Call
Watching Cortes struggle like that could have been tough for Yankees fans—if he were still in New York. But general manager Brian Cashman saw this decline coming.
After Cortes pitched a heavy workload in 2024 and dealt with injuries late in the season, the Yankees decided to move on before things worsened. They traded him, along with infield prospect Caleb Durbin, to Milwaukee in exchange for one of the best bullpen arms in the game—Devin Williams.
Williams Settles In as New York’s Closer
Williams didn’t have a perfect debut for the Yankees—he gave up two hits and an earned run in the ninth inning on Opening Day. However, he closed the game for the save, and his electric stuff was still on display.
Even with a rough start, Williams’ potential is undeniable. His signature “Airbender” changeup is one of the nastiest pitches in baseball, and when healthy, he’s been virtually unhittable.
The Yankees now have a legitimate closer, a player with swing-and-miss stuff and elite command in the ninth inning—an invaluable asset over a 162-game season, especially for a team looking to make a deep postseason run.
- Devin Williams.
Parting ways with fan favorites like Cortes is never easy, but sometimes it’s about knowing when to walk away. While Cortes gave the Yankees many memorable moments, his declining velocity and command made it clear that Cashman made the right move by trading him at the right time.
Durbin may develop into a useful player, but he wasn’t guaranteed a spot in the Yankees’ infield anytime soon. Swapping a declining starter and future depth for a dominant closer was a bold move, but it’s the kind of bold decision the Yankees needed to make.
Early returns suggest Cashman nailed the timing.
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