Padres trade for Nestor Cortes Jr.

Perhaps to fill an eventual need in the starting rotation, should the San Diego Padres pull off a trade to send Dylan Cease somewhere else, outfielder Brandon Lockridge is headed to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for starting pitcher Nestor Cortes Jr..

The 30-year old Cortes was an All-Star in 2022 with the New York Yankees and was good again last year before signing a 1-year, $7.6M contract with the Brewers in the offseason. He'll hit free agency again after this season.

Cortes has not pitched since April, when he suffered a left elbow flexor strain. He was expected to return to the Brewers in late July, but their recent surge likely convinced them that they don't need him to compete.

Should he be healthy enough to pitch, Cortes would likely get a spot in a now-crowded Padres starting rotation. That, paired with the fact that his salary adds money to a Padres payroll that was trying to not add at the deadline, is leading some to wonder if he'll take a spot vacated by a Dylan Cease trade.

One thing to look forward to with Cortes is his wiggling on the mound, always something that I find enjoyable.