Dodgers officially ended Nestor Cortes' Yankees career in shambles after latest move

Even if everything else about Game 1 of the 2024 World Series is eventually forgotten, Freddie Freeman's walk-off grand slam in extra innings is still going to stand alone as one of the greatest moments in postseason history.

The Los Angeles Dodgers were down by one to the New York Yankees, who took the lead in the top of the 10th inning thanks to an Anthony Volpe RBI groundout. New York intentionally walked Mookie Betts in the bottom of the frame to load the bases with two outs.

Freeman was nursing two separate injuries when he came up to the plate, but he only needed to see a single pitch from Nestor Cortes, a 92 MPH fastball low and inside. It was hammered. Freeman walked it off, and the Dodgers set a tone for the rest of the series.

Cortes pitched 1 2/3 clean innings in relief in Game 3, but it didn't really matter. He was always going to be the guy who gave up the very first walk-off grand slam in the World Series.

On Dec. 13, Cortes was traded to the Brewers as the Yankees made a deal for elite closer Devin Williams. Now he can rest assured that he won't see another World Series as long as he's in Milwaukee.

Nestor Cortes' tenure with Yankees ends on a sour note after Devin Williams trade with Brewers

The Brewers have more or less dominated the National League Central over the last four seasons. Sometimes because they're actually a good team, but it's more often because the Cardinals, Cubs, Reds, and Pirates are completely hopeless. Milwaukee has made the playoffs six times in the last seven years, but it has an even worse track record of flaming out in the early rounds than the Dodgers; it's been punched out in either the Wild Card or the NLDS five out of those six visits to October. This year, the Brewers fell to the Mets in the Wild Card thanks to a three-run homer from Pete Alonso in the top of the ninth of Game 3.

Cortes actually had a pretty decent regular season in 2024, pitching almost 180 innings for a 3.77 ERA, but he was injured for a short spell in September and didn't pitch in either the ALDS or LCS before the Yankees decided to trot him out as their closer in Game 1 of the World Series.

For the Yankees, it was an ugly way to end his tenure, but it worked out pretty well for the Dodgers.