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Yankees Acquire Jake Cousins

By Leo Morgenstern | March 31, 2024 at 7:04pm CDT

The Yankees have acquired right-hander Jake Cousins from the White Sox, both teams announced. The White Sox will receive cash considerations in return. Cousins signed a minor league contract with Chicago in December and was not on the 40-man roster.

Cousins, 29, is coming off an impressive spring in which he struck out 11 and walked just two in seven innings of work. He gave up a lone earned run on five hits, although he also allowed three unearned runs. Despite his strong spring stats, the righty was unable to crack the White Sox Opening Day roster.

Drafted by the Nationals in 2017 and released less than two years later, Cousins rebuilt his value with the Schaumburg Boomers of the Frontier League over the first few months of the 2019 season. He pitched well enough to catch the Brewers’ attention that summer, and two years later, he made his MLB debut with Milwaukee. In 30 appearances during the 2021 season, he pitched to a 2.70 ERA and 3.60 SIERA, with seven holds and an impressive 35.2% strikeout rate.

Cousins got off to a bumpy start in 2022 before suffering a UCL injury. However, he opted not to have Tommy John surgery and returned a few months later. He looked quite sharp upon his return, putting up a 2.66 ERA and 3.62 FIP in 22 minor league appearances and tossing 5 1/3 scoreless innings at the MLB level. Unfortunately, he struggled to recapture that success in 2023. Cousins gave up 15 earned runs over 22 2/3 innings with the Brewers between the minors and majors. He was DFA’d at the trade deadline and claimed by the Astros. He did not make it back to the majors with Houston and gave up another 10 earned runs in 15 innings at Triple-A.

Presumably, Cousins will report to the Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. Given his previous major league experience and brief run of success with the Brewers, he could certainly see time in the Yankees bullpen this year. He has one option year remaining.

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View Comments (33)
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33 Comments

  1. LordD99

    1 year ago

    Another depth arm that could end up being something more under Matt Blake.

    11
    Reply
    • Joe says...

      1 year ago

      I’m just hoping someone replaces Holmes in the closer role. I don’t know how much more I can take.

      4
      Reply
      • LordD99

        1 year ago

        He eventually locks in, but he’s been causing some indigestion so far.

        9
        Reply
      • Ronk325

        1 year ago

        Watching Holmes close out games is always a rollercoaster ride. The stats look good in the end but they don’t tell the full story. He seemed to handle the 8th inning role much better in the past. I think Hamilton could push for the closer’s role as the season goes on. Long term I think Gil settles in as the closer after he inevitably moves to the bullpen full time

        4
        Reply
        • Dogleg62

          1 year ago

          Reminds me of David Robertson when he took over closing duties post Mariano. He’d load the bases, and then get out of the inning!

          2
          Reply
        • deej

          1 year ago

          Stats always tell the full story more than feelings do. Yankees fans just want a guy who gets three quick outs every time and not even Mo was that. No reliever in baseball is that. Look at poor Hader getting paid a ton.

          2
          Reply
        • deweybelongsinthehall

          1 year ago

          The ultimate was Don Stanhouse who his manager Earl Weaver knick named “two pack” because of the cigarettes Weaver smoked with him on the mound.

          2
          Reply
      • jerseyjohn

        1 year ago

        He’s one of the better ones out there honestly. Not sure your age but Rivera certainly spoiled me…

        6
        Reply
        • dave frost nhlpa

          1 year ago

          Gossage and Rags spoiled us too!

          2
          Reply
        • deej

          1 year ago

          Rags would be considered a mid-level reliever these days. Holmes numbers with the Yankees have been much better than Rags.

          1
          Reply
        • jerseyjohn

          1 year ago

          I loved the Goose (he’s an all-time favorite of mine) he wasn’t Mo though. He was scary as hell but he was wild and had plenty of uncomfortable moments. Rags was good but well short of Mo. Holmes has been a top 10 closer for a few years even if he doesn’t have the most gaudy saves numbers.

          Reply
        • 28rings

          1 year ago

          Gossage blew a TON of games… could never get George Brett out and look at 1984 World Series against Kirk Gibson. Rightetti should have been left in the rotation – he was our second best SP after Guidry and was more valuable giving us 200 innings in rotation than 100 in bullpen – especially since we had guys like Steve Trout and over-the-hill future HOF pitchers out there instead

          1
          Reply
        • 28rings

          1 year ago

          even Mo wasn’t Mo… go back to 97 playoffs, 01 WS and 04 ALCS

          Reply
      • YankeesBleacherCreature

        1 year ago

        @Joe Lol. I think we’ve been spoiled by Mo. And to an extent Chapman when he was very good. Holmes isn’t elite so I’ve learned to accept him for who is.

        1
        Reply
      • deej

        1 year ago

        Holmes has been one of the best relievers in baseball since the Yankees got him for nothing. He is one of those guys Yankees fans still don’t appreciate.

        4
        Reply
      • RobM

        1 year ago

        Third appearance in four games to start the season might have him a little fatigued as he builds up. Hader’s velocity on the other side also seemed down as he also was appearing for the third time in the series. Holmes had good stuff the two prior. The way I look at it is the Yankees are 4-0 despite Holmes not being quite peak, and Judge still looking for his swing. No complaints from this Yankee fan!

        10
        Reply
      • Mrski

        1 year ago

        His replacement is on the roster named Ian Hamilton

        Reply
    • Yankee Clipper

      1 year ago

      A new member of the Scranton Shuffle Crew…

      Heart Attack Holmes is solely responsible for my blood pressure issues.

      4
      Reply
      • 178iq

        1 year ago

        Holmes reminded me of Chapman today. Cash did do and is continuing to do good things with the pen. We all been giving Cash some $hit but these 4 wins were all pitching, Oswaldo and Soto. Imagine if AJ could hit .290 and Rizzo and a few others start to really contribute… NYY can start to beat up on teams.

        4
        Reply
        • Yankee Clipper

          1 year ago

          No doubt about the ‘pen. That is definitely Cashman’s wheelhouse. He seems to always build a really good bullpen each season.

          Frankly, Cashman has done a good job addressing overall needs this offseason. I would’ve liked to see an established Closer and one more SP, but Soto, Grisham, Berti, Stroman, Verdugo, and all the additions by subtraction are going to make a big difference, imho. Very pleased with the results.

          I also notice that Boone seems to be managing more conventionally this year, which I love. He’s letting guys work through some struggles and actually playing the hot hand (Cabrera).

          3
          Reply
        • 28rings

          1 year ago

          “letting guys work through some struggles and actually playing the hot hand” is an oxymoron like large shrimp… he kept Oswaldo in the lineup (or more likely the analytics guys did because we weren’t facing another lefty) but he still gave Stanton a day of rest after the HR

          Reply
        • Yankee Clipper

          1 year ago

          You’re right, but I wouldn’t call Stanton’s hitting “hot.” His swings have not been good. He clipped a hanging breaking ball.

          By struggles, I was referring to the pitchers, whereas in the past he would hook them too early and overtax the bullpen.

          Reply
  2. Shadow Banned

    1 year ago

    Yankees hoping he’ll do well so his teammates love him. Call it kissing cousins if you will.

    1
    Reply
  3. UWPSUPERFAN77

    1 year ago

    The Yankees signing someone for cheap! Good luck , I remember you fondly from playing in Milwaukee!

    Reply
  4. jerseyjohn

    1 year ago

    For just cash I”m all for it! His stats show great K rates and terrible control. Hopefully something can be fixed, if not Scranton has a new arm for the team.

    1
    Reply
    • JackStrawb

      1 year ago

      @jerseyjohn And that’s only terrible control in a SSS in the majors.

      Everywhere else he’s a 3BB per 9ip guy.

      Late to the party, though. Don’t think he made it to the upper minors until he was 26 years old. Might help the Yankees. He’ll be better than the last guy they were going to use in 2024, in any case.

      1
      Reply
      • jerseyjohn

        1 year ago

        Good intel, I was lazy and only looked at his MLB stats. We’ve made a bunch of moves to raise the floor of our staff recently. I know hating Cashman is cool but he’s had some great moves the past 6 months or so.

        1
        Reply
    • User 4245925809

      1 year ago

      Looked him up at both BR and fangraphs. looks pretty solid depth piece and has been since drafted, probably as good of a relief guy as any team has stashed at AAA. Figures a team like the chisox would dump him, like when was the last time they made the correct decision on anything?

      2
      Reply
  5. briar-patch thatcher

    1 year ago

    Everyone’s trade-happy with the Yankees these days.

    2
    Reply
    • jerseyjohn

      1 year ago

      It’s almost like the Sox owed us after trying to extort us for Cease. They wanted Jones from us and settled for a meh package from the Pads.

      1
      Reply
      • stymeedone

        1 year ago

        So what was the Yankees offer that was better than what San Diego got? They probably didn’t get their initial ask from them either. Its what the team was willing to give up, not the players they weren’t, that determine the trade. Most critics think Getz did ok with the trade.

        1
        Reply
  6. TheMichigan

    1 year ago

    I wish it was mandatory when MLBTR posts about Jake Cousins, that they mention he’s a cousin of Kirk Cousins.

    It’s just so funny to me

    1
    Reply
  7. Dumpster Divin Theo

    1 year ago

    Schaumburg Boomers, eh? Must-have spent a lot of time folding shirts at Woodfield.

    Reply

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