Kirk Cousins’ cousin is now in the bullpen for the New York Yankees.
The Yankees acquired Jake Cousins in a trade with the Chicago White Sox in exchange for cash consideration, the team announced on Sunday.
Jake Cousins, a right-handed reliever, spent spring training with the White Sox after signing a minor league deal with them in December. However, he was assigned to start the season in Triple-A.
The Yankees acquired pitcher Jake Cousins from the White Sox. According to Wikipedia he is a cousin of Kirk.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 31, 2024
Once acquired by New York, he was briefly assigned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre but he was called up ahead of the team’s game on Monday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks. In order to clear space for him on the 26-man roster, the Yankees option left-hander Tanner Tully.
Jake Cousins was originally drafted in the 20th round by the Washington Nationals in 2017. Coincidentally, Kirk Cousins was playing for the Washington Redskins, now Commanders.
Jake Cousins has spent the last three seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers, appearing in a total of 51 games. Last season, he had nine appearances for the Brewers and recorded seven strikeouts, 10 walks and a 4.82 ERA in 9 1/3 innings pitched.
Kirk Irwin/Getty Images
He was placed on waivers in July and was claimed by the Houston Astros on July 31 and was optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land the same day. On Aug. 29, he was designated for assignment and on Sept. 1 he was sent outright to Sugar Land.
He opted for free agency in December and did not appear in a major league game with the White Sox this season before being traded. He is known as a heavy slider-sinker pitcher, which explains why the Yankees were quick to pick him up. They have had proven success with that type of pitcher in their bullpen.
In parts of three seasons at the big league level, he has a career ERA of 3.08 and has struck out 72 batters in 52 2/3 innings.
The Yankees called Tully up on Saturday to provide the Yankees length in their bullpen for the final two games against the Astros, and while he warmed up, he never pitched. Being traded adds another twist to Tully’s week that started in Mexico City last Sunday.
He went with the club to start the first game against Diablos Rojos then flew to Houston with the team Monday night, flew back to Tampa on Tuesday, got in his car and drove to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, bussed to Buffalo to begin the Triple-A season, then flew back to Houston on Saturday to rejoin the Yankees.
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