The Los Angeles Dodgers signed relief pitcher Jake Cousins to a major league contract on Tuesday. He had been non-tendered by New York in November. The move reunites Cousins with the organization he faced in the 2024 World Series, and this time, he’ll be on the other side.
Cousins was one of the Yankees’ more reliable bullpen arms in 2024, posting a 2.37 earned run average in 38 innings with 53 strikeouts against 20 walks. He made three appearances in the Fall Classic that October, though he took the loss in Game 1 at Dodger Stadium, allowing the tying and go-ahead runs to score ahead of Freddie Freeman's legendary walk-off grand slam.
That moment is likely the first thing that Yankees fans remember about Cousins, but it doesn’t define what he was for New York that season. He was a dependable late-inning weapon with a profile that should intrigue any pitching-hungry organization. He has carried a K/9 over 10 in three out of four seasons in the majors. It’s a valuable trait that the Dodgers’ bullpen can utilize, barring any future setbacks, when he returns from the injury.
The catch: Cousins underwent Tommy John surgery last June and will miss most if not all of the 2026 season. The Yankees non-tendered him in November rather than carry him through a lost year. The Dodgers signed him to a guaranteed $905,000 deal with $50,000 in incentives, and he remains under control through 2028 (h/t Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic).
To make room on the 40-man roster, Los Angeles placed right-hander Bobby Miller on the 60-day injured list. Miller didn’t throw a pitch this spring due to shoulder soreness, so the move was largely expected.
At best, Cousins could factor into the Dodgers’ bullpen late in the regular season or during the postseason. More realistically, this is a long-term investment. The Dodgers front office prides itself on identifying and developing pitching talent, betting on a 31-year-old with a promising profile to bounce back from a major procedure. Los Angeles has made a habit of these kinds of low-risk, high-reward acquisitions, and Cousins fits the mold.
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For Yankees fans, it’s another reminder of what slipped away. Cousins unfortunately didn’t get the chance to be a star in the Bronx, but he earned New York’s trust in a pennant race that lifted the team to a World Series appearance, their first since 2009.
Now, the Dodgers are hoping he can do the same for them once he’s back on the mound.
