Yankees Podcast: Nestor Cortes Jr. injury, Isiah Kiner-Falefa's Yankee future

The Yanks Go Yard Podcast is in full swing as the 2023 MLB season approaches. Ideally, with spring training around the corner, Adam and Thomas will have plenty of fuel for their proverbial fires -- but please, let's minimize the Yankees injuries this time around.

On this week's live Monday episode, streamed on the Yanks Go Yard YouTube channel at 2:00 PM EST and available on all podcast platforms in the immediate aftermath, the staff broke down Nestor Cortes missing the World Baseball Classic thanks to a Grade 2 hamstring strain.

The issue will reportedly keep Cortes off the mound for two weeks, but the left-hander expects to be ready for Opening Day (which makes perfect sense with that rumored timeline). Is this injury ironically-timed, due to Brian Cashman's rumored distaste for his pitchers participating in the Classic? Or is it Cashman-induced, and we'll see Cortes at full strength in two weeks back at camp?

Yankees Podcast: Yanks Go Yard Podcast tackles Isiah Kiner-Falefa trade rumors

Plus, Chris Kirschner of The Athletic got us thinking about potential Isiah Kiner-Falefa trades again this week, considering the Yankees appear to be fairly settled on Oswald Peraza as their Opening Day shortstop and haven't shut the door on dealing IKF. Trading his $6.5 million off the roster might be the only way for the team to comfortable secure Jurickson Profar for left field. Just saying.

Plus, Yankees captain Derek Jeter has joined the FOX baseball broadcast team for 2023, but ... what does that mean? Replacing someone? In the booth with Smoltz reminding him of his past failures? We need answers!

Subscribe to the Yanks Go Yard Podcast and get our opinions and banter delivered to your door (or, uh, your computer's door) every Monday and Thursday all offseason (and regular season) long.

READ MORE: 3 Yankees Who Will Shatter Expectations in 2023