PHILADELPHIA — A little more detail has been released about the plan for Nestor Cortes and when he could arrive in red pinstripes, as well as how he could be deployed.

Cortes, who officially signed on Wednesday and was optioned to single-A Clearwater, has to stay in the minors for 15 days, meaning the earliest he can be recalled is September 4, just in time for the first of seven games in 10 days against the Atlanta Braves.

There is a possibility where he could be recalled sooner, but that would require an active pitcher being placed on the injured list.

The interesting thing is that if the Phillies stay on turn in their rotation, they will be back at the top it for the start of that first Braves series. Assuming things stay the same, Cristopher Sanchez, Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola and Jesus Luzardo will be slated to start those four games, in order.

So, adding Cortes wouldn’t put him into a starting rotation right away, and it sounds like the plan for him is to be a bulk reliever anyway.

“I know he’s been throwing extended bullpens … and I think he threw a live (batting practice) today,” Phillies interim manager said of Cortes. “He says he’s ready to roll. I don’t know where it’s going to go. He has to be down there for 15 days getting ready … I think he’s pitched out of the bullpen, if I’m right, and I’m not sure the plan is to get him built to be a starter. That’s kind of a long build. That’s getting to 75-to-90 pitches and (having) four days in between every one of those.

“So, I think it’s going to be build him up at least to a bulk throw and go from there.”

That would mean Cortes could be a 2-3 inning reliever pitching as a piggyback to any starter who doesn’t give the Phillies length.

As far as pitching out of the bullpen before, Cortes has made 49 relief appearances in the regular season in his eight-year career, but only one since 2021.

He did make two relief appearances in the 2024 World Series for the Yankees that didn’t go well.

He gave up the walk-off Grand Slam by Freddie Freeman in the bottom of the 10th in Game 1.

He rebounded to throw 1 2/3 scoreless in Game 4, but he will certainly be remembered for the blown save in Game 1.

It’s improbable that the Phillies will need him for such high leverage, but they may need him to eat some crucial middle innings so they can get to the back of the bullpen where they only have one or two trusted relievers.

It’ll be interesting to see if, in fact, he can provide that for them down the stretch.

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