Lou Trivino out for the year as Yankees deal with more injuries: Jake Cousins to 15-day IL

The New York Yankees have officially shut down Lou Trivino for the remainder of the season due to shoulder issues, while also placing Jake Cousins on the 15-day injured list with a right pectoral strain. Trivino, who missed all of 2023 following Tommy John surgery, had been attempting a comeback, but diminished velocity and poor results in Triple-A led to his shutdown. Meanwhile, Cousins had emerged as a key bullpen arm this season, posting a 2.37 ERA over 38 innings before his injury.

Yankees shut down Lou Trivino for the season, place Jake Cousins on 15-day IL

Earlier, before the Yankees’ 7-4 win over the Athletics in Oakland, Aaron Boone announced that the New York Yankees are officially shutting down Lou Trivino for the rest of the season due to ongoing shoulder issues. With the regular season winding down, it’s now safe to say that Trivino’s year is over—a disappointment for both the team and the veteran right-hander. The Yankees had hoped he could contribute in the second half, providing a much-needed boost to their bullpen.

After missing all of 2023 due to an elbow injury, which led to Tommy John surgery, Trivino had been working hard to make his comeback. In late August, he finally returned to the mound at Triple-A, but signs of trouble quickly emerged. His velocity was down, and the results were concerning. Now, the Yankees have decided to shut him down, leaving his future with the team uncertain.

At Triple-A, Trivino’s performance raised some red flags. He posted a 4.91 ERA and struggled with his command, walking 12.5% of batters and landing only 36.7% of his pitches in the strike zone. His velocity had dropped as well, likely a result of the shoulder discomfort. In 2022, Trivino averaged 95.8 mph on his sinker and 92.3 mph on his cutter, but this year in Triple-A, those numbers fell to 94.3 mph and 90.3 mph, respectively—an alarming decline that showed he wasn’t fully back to form.

With injuries piling up in the Yankees’ bullpen, Trivino’s absence is felt even more. The Yankees had already promoted rookie Clayton Beeter to fill the gap left by Jake Cousins, who was placed on the 15-day injured list due to a pec strain. Cousins had been a bright spot for the Yankees’ relief corps, posting a 2.37 ERA and a 34.2% strikeout rate over 38 innings. But his injury has thrown another wrench into the bullpen’s depth, leaving the Yankees scrambling as the postseason looms.

Meanwhile, Scott Effross, another reliever the Yankees acquired at the 2022 trade deadline alongside Trivino, has also struggled to regain his form. Effross missed all of 2023 due to UCL surgery and recently underwent another procedure for back problems. After making his 2024 debut earlier this month, he was quickly sent back down to Triple-A as his performance wasn’t sharp enough to stick in the majors.

As for Trivino, his future with the Yankees is uncertain. The team holds a $1.5 million club option for the 2025 season, but given his injury history, it’s unclear if the Yankees will exercise that option. With key bullpen arms like Tim Hill, Tommy Kahnle, and Clay Holmes all set to hit free agency this winter, the team could view Trivino as a low-cost depth option. But this latest shoulder injury raises questions about whether he can return to his previous level of performance.

In more positive injury news, Boone shared that DJ LeMahieu has started hitting off a tee as he works his way back from a hip impingement. While LeMahieu is unlikely to return before the regular season ends, there’s hope that he could be ready for the playoffs if the Yankees decide they need him. It’s been a tough year for the veteran infielder, who has been battling injuries and struggling at the plate, slashing just .204/.269/.259 in 228 plate appearances.

For the Yankees, these injuries pose a significant challenge as they head toward the postseason, but the team remains hopeful that players like Cousins and LeMahieu can return and contribute when it matters most.

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