Former Milwaukee Brewers reliever finds new home in Yankees organization

At one point, it seemed like reliever Jake Cousins was going to be a big part of the Milwaukee Brewers bullpen for years to come. The right-hander seemingly came out of nowhere in 2021 and was excellent in his debut season.

Things unfortunately didn't go his way over the next couple years and he and the Brewers would eventually part ways in 2023. He would spend the rest of the season in the Astros organization before becoming a free agent and signing a minor league deal with the White Sox this last offseason.

Cousins had a chance to make the White Sox roster out of spring training but ultimately ended up being sent back to the minors. Starting in April, though, he'll apparently playing in the minors for a different organization.

On Sunday, the Yankees acquired former Brewers reliver Jake Cousins from the White Sox via trade.

Cousins was not on most fans' radar in 2021 when he first broke through to The Show with the Brewers. He had been signed by the organization back in 2019 out of independent baseball and was still in Double-A Biloxi when the 2021 season began.

Cousins would look good early that season, earn a quick promotion to Triple-A, and end up having his contract selected by the Brewers in late June. He would end up pitching in 30 games for Milwaukee that year, compiling a 2.70 ERA and 13.2 K/9 largely due to a big frisbee slider that befuddled opposing batters.

Cousins was set to be a big part of the bullpen equation the following season before an elbow injury derailed his year. He would opt against Tommy John surgery and eventually return late in the season, oddly enough putting up a 2.70 ERA once again but in just 13.1 innings.

Sadly, things would look worse in 2023. Between having a 4.82 ERA in Milwaukee and an even higher 7.30 ERA at Triple-A Nashville, the Brewers would decide to cut ties. His time with the Astros' Triple-A squad didn't due much to persuade them to add him to the big league roster instead.

It looked as though Cousins was giving himself as good a chance as any to get added to the White Sox 40-man roster with his performance this spring. He gave up just one unearned run in seven innings on five hits and two walks, impressively striking out 11.

Even though that wasn't enough to earn him a spot on Chicago's big league roster, it was enough for the Yankees to want to swing a trade for him. Another good month or two and the 29-year-old could have his sights set on the Big Apple.