The Cubs are trading for Blue Jays right-hander Kevin Gausman, a source told MLB.com's Keegan Matheson, with Toronto getting two Minor Leaguers, shortstop Ty Southisene (Blue Jays No. 13 prospect) and outfielder Brett Bateman (No. 21). Neither team has confirmed the deal.
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Gausman joined the Blue Jays on a five-year, $110 million deal prior to the 2022 season, which quickly grew into one of the best free-agent signings in franchise history. Gausman was worth every penny of this contract and more in Toronto, a model of consistency on the mound and a model teammate off of it. He’s seen just about everything this game has to offer, too, a former top prospect with the Orioles who bounced around, moved to the bullpen, was DFA’d and eventually reinvented himself before signing with the Blue Jays. Today, only five active pitchers have thrown more innings than Gausman (Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, Chris Sale, Jose Quintana, Patrick Corbin).
The 2026 numbers don’t jump off the page in the same way as his previous seasons, with a 4.51 ERA over 115 2/3 innings, but the 35-year-old has looked stronger of late and can still pitch in the middle of a strong postseason rotation, especially after what he showed through the Blue Jays’ 2025 World Series run. Over those 30 2/3 innings, Gausman posted a 2.93 ERA, starting Game 1 in both the ALDS and ALCS, then making two starts in the World Series against the Dodgers.
At his best, Gausman is an aggressive, straightforward pitcher. He’s the master of the splitter, the pitch that turned his career around and helped morph him into one of baseball’s highest-strikeout starters for a stretch. Gausman led the AL in strikeouts (237) in 2023, his finest year in Toronto, earning a third-place finish in AL Cy Young Award voting.
Gausman, a pending free agent, hasn’t publicly committed to playing beyond 2026 just yet, but there would be interest throughout the league if he decides he has more in the tank. That could all depend on how this run goes for Gausman with his new club, though, as he’s still chasing that elusive World Series ring.