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Phillies place All-Star pitcher on injured list one week after signing
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- Phillies place All-Star pitcher on injured list one week after signing
Phillies place All-Star pitcher on injured list one week after signing originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
The Philadelphia Phillies have five good starting pitchers, now that Aaron Nola and Andrew Painter appear to have turned the corner lately.
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But with Zack Wheeler 's recent struggles, finding another starting pitcher for the rotation down the stretch of the season wouldn't be a bad idea. Dave Dombrowski added one option in free-agent pitcher Nestor Cortes . He's in the minors, but he could be an option.
At least, that was the case before Wednesday. Charlotte Varnes of The Athletic reported that Cortes, the pitcher the Phillies signed on August 19, was placed on the injured list one week later, on August 26, before pitching once in the Phillies' organization.
Phillies place Nestor Cortes on IL one week after signing
"LHP Nestor Cortes, signed by the Phillies last week and optioned to Low-A Clearwater, has been placed on the IL," Varnes reports.
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This is a tough blow for the Phillies and Cortes, as they had just recently brought him in with the hope he could be a depth pitcher, either as a starter or reliever, down the home stretch of the season.
While his stay on the 7-Day injured list might not be season-ending, it's still a bad look that the Phillies are now without the left-hander for some time.
In his MLB career, Cortes has a 3.94 ERA and an All-Star nod in eight seasons, mostly spent with the New York Yankees .
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Last season, he made two starts for the Milwaukee Brewers , posting a 9.00 ERA before landing on the injured list and missing most of the season. He then joined the San Diego Padres , where he posted a 5.47 ERA in six starts.
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Cortes isn't exactly the kind of pitcher Phillies fans could get really excited about. But, considering their lack of rotation depth in the minor leagues, Cortes could've been an intriguing pickup late in the season.
But with Cortes on the IL now due to an undisclosed injury, it's looking like the Phillies just wasted money and a roster spot on the left-hander.
He could still return and even play a significant role in September and maybe even October. But this IL placement makes such a future look unlikely.
