The Toronto Blue Jays have traded veteran right-hander Kevin Gausman to the Chicago Cubs. The deal, confirmed on Sunday, sends Gausman to Chicago in exchange for outfielder Brett Bateman and infielder Ty Southisene.
Bateman, a 24-year-old outfielder, played 82 games for Triple-A Iowa this season, where he recorded a .312 batting average with three home runs, 20 steals, and 33 RBIs. Southisene, a 21-year-old shortstop, hit .326 in 44 games for High-A South Bend. According to MLB Pipeline, Southisene was the Cubs’ No. 13 prospect, while Bateman was No. 21.
Gausman’s Blue Jays Tenure
Gausman signed a five-year, US$110-million deal with the Blue Jays on December 21, 2021. During his time in Toronto, he was considered one of the team’s most reliable starters for five seasons. He made 148 regular-season starts for the Blue Jays, posting a 3.62 ERA over 861 innings and accumulating 12.8 wins above replacement.
His success on the field and consistency behind the scenes made him an essential part of the Blue Jays’ recent achievements. Manager John Schneider described Gausman as one of the best free-agent signings the organization has made from a pitching perspective, highlighting his consistency, professionalism, and positive presence as a teammate.
Gausman’s contributions included earning his second All-Star appearance in 2023 and finishing third in Cy Young Award voting that same year. He also received Cy Young votes in 2022. He played a critical role in the Blue Jays’ run to the World Series in 2025.
During the 2025 playoffs, Gausman went 2-3 with a 2.93 ERA across five starts. This included allowing just four hits over 6 2/3 innings in Game 2 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, and striking out eight batters over six innings in Game 6.
The right-hander now ranks among the franchise’s all-time leaders in several categories, including seventh all-time in strikeouts with 920, ninth in starts with 148, and 12th in wins with 53. He maintained an ERA below 3.90 in each of his first four seasons with the team and never went on the injured list.
Despite his past success, Gausman, like the Blue Jays, has faced challenges this season. He holds a 4-10 record in 23 starts with a 4.38 ERA and 123 strikeouts over 121 2/3 innings pitched. The Blue Jays, with a 52-60 record, are currently last in the American League East, 4 1/2 games out of a wild-card berth, positioning them as sellers ahead of the trade deadline.
The 35-year-old Gausman expressed a preference not to be traded but acknowledged the business aspect of the game. Having already received one qualifying offer, he was ineligible for another, meaning the Blue Jays could only secure a return for him through a trade.
His final home start at Rogers Centre on Saturday was an emotional one, with fans giving him an ovation that Gausman described as “definitely up there” among his memorable moments. Teammate George Springer highlighted Gausman’s consistency, desire to pitch in big games, and his care for his teammates.
Cubs’ Pursuit of Pitching
The Cubs are actively seeking pitching reinforcements ahead of the trade deadline. They currently lead the National League wild-card standings with a 63-49 record and are 6.5 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central, but hold a four-game lead for the top wild-card spot.
Chicago hopes Gausman can bolster a pitching staff that ranks 24th in total strikeouts. Gausman’s career spans 14 years in MLB, making the Cubs his sixth team. He was originally selected fourth overall by the Baltimore Orioles in the 2012 draft, playing there from 2013 to 2018 before being traded to the Atlanta Braves.
After being designated for assignment by Atlanta in August 2019, he was picked up by the Cincinnati Reds. He then signed with the San Francisco Giants, playing there for two years before joining the Blue Jays. Gausman ranks behind only Dylan Cease in strikeouts since the start of the 2022 season.
With Gausman’s departure, an opening in the Blue Jays’ rotation has emerged. Candidates such as Chad Dallas and CJ Van Eyk are among those who could take on more innings for the remainder of the season. The Blue Jays also acquired veteran starter Jameson Taillon from the Cubs in an earlier trade on Sunday. Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins has scheduled a Zoom conference call for Monday at 7:30 p.m. ET to discuss trade deadline day.
Source: cp24.com
