Nestor Cortes perfectly embodies Yankees' World Series mentality with badass quote

If you're not all in now, with the New York Yankees four wins away from a World Series championship, then when will you be? Left-hander Nestor Cortes, just one month removed from "complaining" about being moved to the bullpen (while actually just ... showing off a winner's mentality), upped the ante for any teammates who are looking to hit another level this week.

Cortes, injured during the regular season's final weeks and diagnosed with a flexor strain in his throwing elbow, could've easily thrown in the towel. He knew instantaneously -- we all did -- that there was no chance for him to return from even a mild version of the injury prior to the World Series. The Yankees were destined a lose a key multi-inning weapon/potential starter until, at the earliest, the season's final week.

Fine. Fair, Cortes nodded. He didn't see the diagnosis as the end of the road, though. He just needed his teammates to carry him until he could carry them.

They did just that. Tim Hill pitched in all five games of the Yankees' ALCS triumph over the Guardians. Clay Holmes, Tommy Kahnle, and Luke Weaver were run semi-ragged, but persevered. Now, with the World Series on Friday's horizon, Cortes believes he will be ready, and the Yankees just might carry 13 pitchers to accommodate him.

Of course, a flexor strain means a weakened elbow. Already the most finicky part of any pitcher's body, Cortes' left arm will be additionally compromised during this best-of-seven set. He's a free agent after the 2025 season; there is no currently guaranteed contract insuring Cortes' future.

And yet, the left-hander does not care about the risk. Give him the ball. If he loses a year and wins something eternal, so be it.

Yankees' Nestor Cortes would trade a year away for a World Series ring

In case there was any lingering doubt, these Yankees care about the Canyon of Heroes more than anything in the world, and nothing says "rising to the challenge" quite like Cortes staring into an uncertain future and realizing that gutting through things one day at a time could set him up for the most important long-term gain of his life.

Well, not him, exactly. His team. Forget the trade rumors that dominated the midsummer discourse because of his arbitration status. Forget the lengthy potential rehab, and silent nights occasionally interrupted by the thud of the weight room. Forget the dark possibility of the offseason spilling into spring training, bleeding into April and May.

All that matters to Cortes is the next four-to-seven games, and we suspect that message will resonate with the 25 men he just agreed to go to battle alongside.