The Yankees are planning to add right-hander Jake Cousins to their roster, per Erik Boland of Newsday Sports. The righty was just acquired from the White Sox yesterday. He’s not yet on the 40-man and will require a corresponding move.
Cousins, 29, is coming off a challenging season. He was only able to toss 9 1/3 innings in the majors, allowing five earned runs, while getting frequently optioned to the minors and also landing on the injured list due to right shoulder inflammation at one point. He went from the Brewers to the Astros via a waiver claim and had a 6.35 earned run average in the minors between those two clubs.
But he had thrown 43 1/3 innings for the Brewers over 2021 and 2022 with a much nicer ERA of 2.70. His 14.7% walk rate was on the high side but he was able to strike out 35.3% of opponents. His poor performance in 2023 led to him being outrighted by the Astros and then settling for a minor league deal with the White Sox. He appeared to be in good form in the spring, tossing seven innings with just one earned run allowed, striking out 11 opponents while walking just two.
The Yanks seem to think the strong results from the Cactus League are a good sign that Cousins can put last year behind him and get back on track. They sent cash to the Sox yesterday to get Cousins in their system and will now give him a roster spot as well. Cousins still has an option, so he can provide the bullpen with a fresh arm and also give the club the flexibility to send him to the minors at some point later in the year. He has just under two years of service time and can therefore be retained for future seasons if he sticks on the 40-man through the year.
scottaz
To make room for Cousins on the 40 man roster, the Yankees have Designated Aaron Judge for Assignment.
AF
Joe says...
It was either him or Soto. Tough call.
YankeesBleacherCreature
We got an Oswaldo! The team needs to get younger.
Curly Was The Smart Stooge
Sign Bruce Kison and you’ll have Kison Cousins…
Old York
@scottaz
Didn’t they DFA Arson Judge?
User 2161944466
THE Jake Cousins.
CravenMoorehead
The tower of power…
angryyankeesfan1
He has options, so they don’t need to add him to the active roster.
angryyankeesfan1
It seems they will though.
YankeesBleacherCreature
Luis Gil will probably be on a lower pitch-count tonight. Cousins can piggyback. Tully probably goes down to make a start in AAA to keep him stretched. No idea who they’re going to DFA.
CGG12
Probably just move DJL to the 60 day
YankeesBleacherCreature
True.
Old York
Who are Jake’s Cousins?
mrmet17
Demarcus and Kirk, but I believe they felt football was more the sport for them
For Love of the Game
Seriously, Jake and Kirk are cousins, growing up about 45 minutes apart in Illinois.
CravenMoorehead
He’s Ohta….I mean Mizuhara’s bookie
Reynaldo's
Sox pen is so good that they didn’t even want to bother giving this guy a chance?
User 4245925809
Chicago could use like 20 new people on it’s 26 man roster period and probably 3/4 new players on it’s 40 man. That team has pittsburgh-itis, that is continually sorry, despite picking top 10 for 20y straight.
LordD99
The Scranton shuttle begins.
No Salary Cap For You! (Come Back One Year)
Me and my cousins and you and your cousins… someone had to post it 😛
Chuck from Uniontown
Any relation to Scott Cousins, the guy who speared Buster Posey?
Paleobros
He can sure hold a baseball with the best of ‘em.
dasit
scranton chief of police: we’re gonna need a bigger airport