As the New York Yankees opened their season in the American League East with a win, their rivals across the country signed one of their pitchers from last season’s roster. At least, he was, if in name only.
The Los Angeles Dodgers yesterday signed right-handed reliever Jake Cousins to a major league contract. Cousins, 31, most recently appeared in the majors with the Yankees during the 2024 season, but although he was on the roster for the entirety of the year, he did not pitch in 2025 following Tommy John surgery.
With the Yankees in 2024, Cousins had his best-ever season, and was hoped to be a key part of the 2025 bullpen. As it is, the Dodgers will be hoping that Cousins is quickly back to his best after a year away.
Cousins’ Journey To And From The Yankees
Cousins’ path to the major leagues began after he was selected by the Washington Nationals in the 20th round of the 2017 MLB Draft. He spent two seasons in the Nationals’ system, before being released in 2019. He subsequently pitched in independent baseball before his contract was purchased by the Milwaukee Brewers later that year, whereupon he progressed through the minor leagues and made his major league debut on June 21, 2021.
When Cousins did make it to the majors, he began with a bang. He did not allow an earned run until his 18th major league appearance, establishing himself as a usable bullpen option straight away, and finished the season with 30 appearances and a 2.70 ERA across 30 innings, along with 44 strikeouts and a mere .158 batting average against.
Cousins’s second season in 2022 was limited by injury. He was placed on the injured list with a right elbow issue in June, and later transferred to the 60-day injured list, missing almost three months of action. He returned late in the season and made 12 appearances, and was again decent, finishing with a 2-1 record and a 2.70 ERA over 13.1 innings in the majors, while striking out 21 batters.
After that season, a couple of down years followed. In 2023, Cousins split time between the majors and minor leagues, but was not as effective – he appeared in nine MLB games for the Brewers, posting a 4.82 ERA with seven strikeouts, before being designated for assignment and claimed by the Houston Astros. His time in Houston’s organization was brief and limited to the minor leagues, and he elected free agency at the end of the season.
Dodgers Hoping To Successfully Buy Low
Cousins – the cousin of former Minnesota Vikings quarterback, Kirk Cousins – signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox in December 2023, and was traded to the Yankees prior to the 2024 season in exchange for cash. Despite not apparently being good enough for the league-worst White Sox, he was selected to the Yankees’ major league roster immediately and became a regular member of the bullpen. In 37 appearances for the Yankees that season, Cousins recorded a 2-1 record with a 2.37 ERA across 38.0 innings, along with 53 strikeouts and a 1.05 WHIP. He also recorded the first save of his major league career, and appeared in the 2024 World Series run, where he faced the same Dodgers he now works for.
In 2025, Cousins was placed on the 60-day injured list with a right elbow flexor strain and later underwent Tommy John surgery, which ended his season. He did not appear in a major league game that year and was non-tendered by the Yankees following the season, becoming a free agent.
Across his career to date, Cousins has appeared in 88 major league games, all in relief. He holds a 5-2 record with a 2.78 ERA over 90.2 innings pitched, with 125 strikeouts and a 1.25 WHIP. The Dodgers’ injury list of pitchers last season was almost as long as their active roster, and Cousins has been immediately added to their 40-man roster to take the spot of the injured Bobby Miller – despite injuries of his own over the years, Cousins, when he was good, could be very good.
Former Yankees Pitcher Signs With Dodgers