Astros GM just nullified all Yankees' excuses for not trading Nestor Cortes

Let's see ... if underperforming, innings-eating left-handers whose surface numbers are still competent, but who don't miss many barrels are worth a top pitching prospect, a young impact major-leaguer, and a son of a big-leaguer who slugs these days ... then why are the Yankees still holding onto Nestor Cortes Jr.?

Wait ... I'm sorry, I read that wrong. That aforementioned package was sent from Houston to Toronto in exchange for Yusei Kikuchi, who is a rental, only controllable for two months. Cortes, with a stronger ERA (4.75 vs. 4.13) and slightly worse FIP (3.65 vs. 4.00), could be a slightly worse bet down the stretch, but comes with an extra year of control attached and could benefit from a winter in the acquiring team's pitching lab. What are we really doing here?

James Click, formerly in control of Houston's baseball operations, now resides in the Toronto front office. Maybe he just accurately read Astros GM Dana Brown's reeking desperation, called his bluff, and reaped the rewards from a system he helped build? Or maybe the price of arms has escalated into the stratosphere, and a trade of Cortes could help net the Yankees a plethora of prospects, some of whom they could even use to flip for Jack Flaherty?

Regardless, the Astros-Blue Jays package seems to have temporarily stopped the deadline in its tracks, giving the Yankees time to breathe. After pondering, they should up their energy levels a little bit and get moving on a Cortes trade to the highest bidder.

Yankees could take advantage of Astros' overpay for Yusei Kikuchi with Nestor Cortes trade

If/when Clarke Schmidt returns from the injured list, he could be a very helpful piece in fleshing out the Yankees' rotation down the stretch. His return shouldn't be considered "like a trade," but if the Yankees swap Cortes for Flaherty, then also welcome a second arm back in Schmidt, that could be a boon.

Cortes' 2022 season was magical, and his 2024 rebound from a difficult adjustment last offseason (and multiple shoulder injuries) has mostly been impressive. The cracks have started to show in his attitude recently, though, possibly as he began to perceive his time for departure was arriving sooner than he'd hoped. His Yankee Stadium numbers are still sterling, but his off-putting tweet during the All-Star Game embodies everything the Yankees have been mocked for in recent years, and his dud of a start in that tweet's wake proved this team still loves to bark without backing it up.

If the Yankees were already considering trading Cortes -- and they were -- Houston's bombshell on Monday night should be what sets them over the edge (as long as they swiftly replace him with an upgrade, rental or otherwise).