Nestor Cortes wants to stay with Yankees as trade rumors swirl

PHILADELPHIA — As of Monday evening, Nestor Cortes was still listed as the Yankees’ starting pitcher for their series finale against the Phillies on Wednesday. 

But it’s no longer a secret that the Yankees at least considered trading the left-hander to St. Louis in exchange for infielder Tommy Edman, who ended up going to the Dodgers as part of a three-team deal with the White Sox and sent Erick Fedde to the Cardinals. 

Before the Yankees faced the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Monday night, Cortes walked into the Yankee clubhouse and then threw a bullpen session, just like he typically would to get ready for a start. 

Still, he acknowledged he’s tuned into the rumors in advance of Tuesday’s trade deadline. 

“It’s all over Twitter,’’ Cortes said of the reports on X and elsewhere that he could be dealt — including by The Post’s Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman. “I don’t think it’s anything concrete, but the word is out there. I’m aware of it.” 

And he hopes it doesn’t happen. 

“Of course I want to stay,” Cortes said of his desire to remain a Yankee. “It’s a winning team, it’s the team I was drafted by. They’ve given me many opportunities and I’ve done a lot of good, some bad, but I’m still fighting, still trying to claw my way up to being a proven starter and winning for this team.” 

That could become more challenging with the trade rumors swirling. 

“I’ve done a pretty good job blocking it out,’’ Cortes said. “I’m still on this team [and] still trying to win for this team. I’m preparing for Wednesday. … That’s my focus.” 

He acknowledged though, he’s “playing it day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute.” 

Aaron Boone said it’s an “unsettling time” for players. 

And it comes after Cortes took to X during the All-Star break in defense of the Yankees organization, writing: “Everyone talks down about the Yanks, but they wanna be us. It’s a privilege to wear pinstripes. Every year we are in contention. I’m blessed to be able to compete for a playoff spot and always be contenders at the end.” 

Asked what led him to post the message, Cortes said Monday, “We compete here for a championship every single year. We haven’t had the run we wanted to for the last few years I’ve been here, but it was part of me being a Yankee, my desire to be here and desire to win. It just came from a place where I’m a competitor and I want what’s best for my team. I wanted to show and express that I really want to be here and I really care. I want to win.” 

In the meantime, as of Monday, he waited. 

“If it happens, it happens,” Cortes said. “I’m not worried about it. I’ll try to pitch the best I can.”