Yankees' Nestor Cortes Calls Out Red Sox For Not Being Good Enough For Rivalry

A normal mid-June matchup may turn into must watch TV

Is a hundred-year-old rivalry on its last chapter?

New York Yankees left-handed pitcher Nestor Cortes had some choice words that led to a quote likely to spill over into their matchup with the Boston Red Sox this weekend.

“It doesn’t feel like what we have here with Tampa now, or with Toronto now. You could argue that (the Red Sox) haven’t been who they really are the last couple of years," Cortes told the New York media.

To Cortes’ point, the Red Sox are 309-299 since they won the World Series in 2018. 

Even with the Red Sox production leveling off, a 2021 Wild-Card victory over the Yankees is still hanging over their head. Unless Cortes was referencing last season, it’s pretty difficult to validate his claims that Boston isn’t the same team it used to be. 

There is undoubtedly some truth to Cortes’ statement, as the Yankee’s tempers with the Toronto Blue Jays and Tampa Bay Rays have flared this season -- notably when Aaron Judge made headlines for looking at his dugout against Toronto and was subsequently accused of stealing signs.  

There’s also an argument to be made that New York hasn’t been living up to its reputation, sitting at third place in the admittedly loaded American League East this season. 

If the rivalry truly has lost its touch in recent years, Cortes’ comments could very well be the spark that the American League East rivals needed. The Yankees are hosting the Red Sox this weekend and if Boston takes his comments personally, we may see some drama at Yankee Stadium. 

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