

BOSTON — Since the start of May, the New York Yankees’ bullpen has ranked in the bottom 10 in ERA and FIP. One of their key relievers was due back soon and was seen as someone who could help stabilize the group, but that now seems unlikely.
Jake Cousins, who has yet to pitch this season because of a flexor strain, is “moving toward” needing Tommy John surgery, manager Aaron Boone said Saturday. Cousins was recently on a minor-league rehab assignment working toward making his season debut, but he was pulled off it earlier this week after feeling pain in his elbow. It was the second setback in his rehab this season, after dealing with a pectoral issue in May.
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The loss of Cousins is quite significant for the Yankees. He was one of their better pitchers last season after getting traded from the Chicago White Sox. Cousins had a 2.37 ERA and a 34.2 percent strikeout rate across 38 innings.
If Cousins needs Tommy John surgery, the timing would likely mean it’ll also cost him the 2026 season. Cousins, 30, is eligible for the first year of arbitration this offseason. If the Yankees want to keep Cousins and have him rehab with the organization, he’ll likely make less than $1 million. A potential issue with keeping him through the offseason, though, is that he would take a 40-man roster spot, and the Yankees might need it, depending on what they do.
Even before Cousins was diagnosed with a UCL injury, the Yankees needed to add at least one reliever to their bullpen before next month’s trade deadline. That becomes even more important with one of their potential high-leverage relievers likely to miss the entire year.
The Yankees’ injury news wasn’t all bad Saturday. Boone said designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton (double tennis elbow) could make his season debut Monday or Tuesday at Yankee Stadium against the Los Angeles Angels. Luis Gil (lat strain) is about two weeks away from facing live hitters. He’s still several weeks out from making his season debut.
(Photo: Alex Slitz / Getty Images)
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