Padres Seen as Best Fit for Top Free Agent Pitcher Nestor Cortes

Cortes could provide rotation depth for San Diego at a low cost as he recovers from offseason surgery.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 5:41pm

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The San Diego Padres are in need of starting pitching depth after injuries and free agent departures, and veteran left-hander Nestor Cortes is seen as a potential low-cost option to fill that void. Cortes, a 2022 All-Star with the New York Yankees, is recovering from offseason surgery but could be ready to contribute later in the 2026 season if signed by the Padres.

Why it matters

The Padres' starting rotation has been hit hard this offseason, losing Yu Darvish to injury and Dylan Cease to free agency. While they've added some veteran arms, the back end of their rotation remains uncertain. Signing Cortes, who has proven he can be an above-average starter when healthy, would give the Padres valuable rotation depth at a low cost as he recovers.

The details

The Padres have already added Walker Buehler and Germán Márquez to their rotation, but both have struggled early in the 2026 season. Cortes, who was traded to the Padres midway through the 2025 season, could provide an experienced left-handed option once he's healthy. In 2024, Cortes had a 3.77 ERA in 174.1 innings for the Yankees, making the All-Star team. The Padres could likely sign him for well below the $7.6 million he made in arbitration last year given the uncertainty around his recovery timeline.

  • Cortes underwent surgery to repair a tendon in his left arm in October 2025.
  • He is not expected to resume baseball activities for 9-10 months following the surgery.

The players

Nestor Cortes

A left-handed starting pitcher who was an All-Star for the New York Yankees in 2022 but struggled after being traded to the Padres midway through the 2025 season.

A.J. Preller

The president of baseball operations for the San Diego Padres, who is looking to shore up the team's starting rotation depth.

Walker Buehler

A veteran starting pitcher the Padres signed in the offseason, who has struggled early in the 2026 season.

Germán Márquez

Another veteran starting pitcher the Padres added this offseason, who has had mixed results so far in 2026.

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What they’re saying

“By nature of doing new stuff for three or four days, I can hold it for a [while], and then it goes away. It's just getting the new stuff into the throw. … I feel good about the first two innings. So net positive, I guess.”

— Walker Buehler, Padres Starting Pitcher

What’s next

If Buehler continues to struggle, the Padres may need to make a decision on his spot in the rotation, which could open the door for Cortes to join the team later in the season.

The takeaway

The Padres' starting rotation has been a concern early in the 2026 season, and signing Nestor Cortes to a low-cost deal could provide them with valuable rotation depth as he recovers from offseason surgery. Cortes has proven he can be an effective starter when healthy, making him an intriguing option for the Padres to consider.