Nestor Cortes, Yankees Have 'Weighed the Consequences' of World Series Roster Spot

Nestor Cortes hasn't pitched for the New York Yankees since Sept. 18 due to a left elbow flexor strain, and doing so during the World Series would potentially put him at further risk for a serious injury, perhaps even one requiring Tommy John surgery.

It's a gamble he's willing to make.

"The conversations have been really clear throughout the whole postseason," he told reporters Tuesday. "We have weighed the consequences that this can lead up to, but if I have a ring and then a year off of baseball, then so be it."

Cortes knows there's no guarantee he'll ever be back in a World Series and doesn't want to miss the opportunity.

"I could pitch this World Series and be good and then go into spring training and blow out and not expect it," he told reporters. "So, I guess the World Series is a once-in-a-lifetime thing—hopefully not for this team. But given the circumstance and knowing how important this is, not only wanting to pitch but I feel like there is a need in my left hand and facing those left-handed batters over there, it's going to be important for me to be healthy and be effective."

Cortes would be used out of the bullpen for the Yankees, potentially in high-leverage situations against left-handed hitters Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman, the Nos. 1 and 3 batters in the Los Angeles Dodgers' lineup.

It would be a somewhat new role for him after starting 30 games for the Yankees this past season, going 9-10 with a 3.77 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 162 strikeouts. But he has come out of the bullpen 49 times in his career, has plenty of experience facing Ohtani (who only has two hits in 12 career at-bats against him, with one strikeout) and he would give Aaron Boone another left-handed option.

Whether Cortes could handle multiple innings at a time remains to be seen. He threw 28 pitches in a simulated game on Tuesday and believes he'll be on the World Series roster—which would mean the Yankees carry 13 pitchers and 13 position players for the Fall Classic, which Boone has confirmed is a possibility—so long as he doesn't have any setbacks on Wednesday.

"It's as good as it could be," Cortes told reporters regarding his arm. "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."