Nestor Cortes Jr.
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The New York Yankees have dealt left-handed reliever Nestor Cortes Jr. to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for international pool money.

Nestor Cortes Jr.’s latest New York Yankees tenure has officially come to an end. On Monday, the Bombers traded the veteran left-handed reliever to the Seattle Mariners. In exchange, they received international signing bonus pool money. The move comes prior to the MLB’s 40-man deadline.

Cortes will be with his third major league ballclub in as many years. Prior to spending 2019 with the Yankees, Cortes portrayed his talents for the Baltimore Orioles during the 2018 season.

This past year, Cortes finished with a 5-1 record, a 5.67 ERA, and a 1.545 WHIP through 33 games (one start). He struck out 69 batters and walked 28 across 66.2 innings pitched. He picked up his first major-league victory with the Yanks, as he finished with an 0-0 during his short stint with the Orioles.

New York originally drafted Cortes in the 36th round of the 2013 MLB Draft. He spent time in their minor league system prior to the Orioles selecting him in the 2017 Rule 5 draft.

In his career thus far (37 games, one start), Cortes has a 5.80 ERA and a 1.640 WHIP with 72 strikeouts and 32 walks through 71.1 innings pitched.

Additional moves the Yankees have made prior to the 40-man deadline include releasing Jacoby Ellsbury and designating Greg Bird for assignment. The former was a move that most certainly needed to be made, especially due to Ellsbury’s injury history.

Dealing with multiple setbacks, Ellsbury didn’t play a single inning for the Yankees throughout the entire 2017 and 2018 seasons.

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Ryan Honey is a staff writer and host of the Wide Right Podcast.