The Los Angeles Dodgers are staring down a tough roster decision on pitcher Jake Cousins, who hasn’t thrown a single inning in the big leagues in two years. Since his Tommy John surgery in 2025, Cousins has been completely absent from MLB action, putting the team in a real bind about his future.
A Million-Dollar Question With No Easy Answers
Cousins is entering his second year of arbitration, and that means a projected $1 million payday from the Dodgers, according to MLB Trade Rumors. Now, he’s got another year of team control beyond 2027, which makes keeping him around relatively affordable. But “affordable” doesn’t mean “smart” if he can’t contribute. The Dodgers originally grabbed Cousins in free agency right when the season kicked off, after the Yankees non-tendered him. He was still knee-deep in rehab from that surgery when he signed, so they knew what they were getting into, to some extent.
From Yankee Star to Minor League Struggle
It’s a stark contrast to how Cousins looked when he last pitched in the majors. Back in 2024, he was rocking a 2.37 ERA with the New York Yankees. That’s solid, right? But after all that diligent rehab, when he finally got back on the mound in the minors this year, things didn’t exactly click. He made six appearances in Triple-A, and the numbers are just brutal: a 10.38 ERA on four hits and five walks. Yikes. That’s not exactly the comeback story you want to see. The Dodgers clearly weren’t feeling it either, because they didn’t even put him on the postseason roster or rush him up for a few regular-season innings.
So, what’s next? The Dodgers have to decide if they still believe in Cousins’s ability to actually pitch meaningful innings next year. They can keep him on the 40-man roster and pay that arbitration cash, or they can just cut him loose, make him a free agent, and save a cool million. With that 40-man spot crucial ahead of the Rule 5 Draft, their faith in Jake Cousins is about to get its first real test.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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