Bleacher Report's offseason trade prediction for Yankees ignores 2 major points

It's easy to check your notes from July and apply some of the nuggets to the upcoming offseason. But when it comes to the New York Yankees, it's not quite that simple. Don't forget this organization does its absolute best not to give in to any outside noise. They will make (or not make) a move just to spite the popular opinion of the fanbase or media.

But that's actually not the case here, for as much as we'd love to implore the front office to actually listen to good advice from unplugged people.

In this case, Bleacher Report is missing the mark with an offseason prediction for the Yankees. But a few weeks ago, they might have been right on the money.

In their "Ranking Top 25 Potential Trade Chips of the 2024-25 MLB Offseason," B/R has New York starter Nestor Cortes at No. 18. Here's what the writer had to say about the Yankees potentially moving the left-hander:

"Cortes saw his name surface in rumors at the 2024 deadline, with the Yankees set to move him if they had landed one of their top targets on the trade market. Between those rumblings and his public disapproval when he was briefly moved to the bullpen in September, it feels like a breakup is coming. With a 3.77 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 162 strikeouts in 174.1 innings, plenty of teams would be interested if he is legitimately shopped."

First of all, the Yankees likely sought to move Cortes at the trade deadline in an effort to upgrade their win-now 2024 roster that needed help on offense. Brian Cashman sort of accomplished that goal by acquiring Jazz Chisholm, and he didn't need to trade Cortes, who was key in helping the Yankees eventually win the AL East.

But right before the regular season ended, Cortes suffered a flexor strain and hasn't pitched since Sept. 18 due to the injury. Though he started throwing again last week, he was left off the ALCS roster and he probably won't be seen again this year.

And ... uh ... that's another reason this is a misguided trade scenario. The Yankees will not be trading Cortes this offseason at his lowest possible value with an elbow injury hanging in the balance. Cashman refuses to trade assets if he's not getting his desired return. The front offcice will also be hard-pressed to find suitors willing to gamble on that while paying Cortes his projected $8.3 million arbitration salary in 2025.

In theory, yes, Cortes can be viewed as an offseason trade candidate based on everything that's transpired this year. Between the emergences of Clarke Schmidt and Luis Gil, the contract investment in Marcus Stroman, and the team blindsiding Cortes with a move to the bullpen in late 2024, the sparknotes take you there.

But his concerning injury coupled with the Yankees front office's habits no longer lend credibility to the speculation. You're probably better off projecting Cortes getting non-tendered, in all honesty.