The Chicago Cubs acquired veteran right-handed starting pitcher Kevin Gausman from the Toronto Blue Jays, according to Ken Rosenthal and Mitch Bannon of Mlbtraderumors. In exchange, the Blue Jays will receive minor league outfielder Brett Bateman and infielder Ty Southisene, as reported by The New York Times team and league sources. According to MLB Pipeline, Southisene was ranked as the Cubs’ No. 13 prospect and Bateman was No. 21, as noted by Sportsnet.
Cubs Land Kevin Gausman in Trade With Blue Jays
The trade addresses a significant pitching quest for the Cubs, whose rotation has been severely hampered by injuries throughout the season. Chicago has already brought in David Peterson and Aaron Civale in separate deals over the preceding six weeks, and team president Jed Hoyer engineered the move to add an experienced performer for the stretch run. Gausman is expected to slot directly into the projected top three of the rotation alongside Shota Imanaga and Matthew Boyd, according to Mlbtraderumors. The Cubs are assuming the roughly $7.3 million remaining on Gausman’s $23 million salary for the season.
Inside Gausman’s Performance and Underlying Metrics
Now in his age-35 season, Gausman carries a 5-10 record and a 4.38 ERA with a 1.288 WHIP across 127 1/3 innings and 23 starts, according to Bleedcubbieblue. However, the Cubs believe his underlying performance remains strong when looking past the ERA. Gausman maintains a 23.5% strikeout rate and a 6.7% walk rate, mirroring his metrics from previous seasons when he posted a 3.71 ERA across a combined 371 innings in 2024 and 2025. He continues to rely primarily on his four-seam fastball, gyro slider, and splitter mix.
Durability has been a defining trait for the two-time All-Star, who has logged more than 100 innings in 12 of the last 13 years, with the lone exception being the shortened 2020 campaign. Since Opening Day 2021, only Logan Webb has thrown more regular-season frames than Gausman’s 1,053 innings. Furthermore, Gausman brings 14 games of career postseason experience, including a 2.93 ERA over 30 2/3 innings during Toronto’s run to the World Series last year.
Shift to Selling Mode for Toronto
For the Blue Jays, the trade marks an official pivot into selling mode less than a year after capturing the American League pennant, as Bleacher Report details. Sitting at 52-60, Toronto finds itself 13.5 games back in the division and facing a steep climb toward the postseason. Because Gausman has already received a qualifying offer in his career, he is ineligible for another, meaning a trade was the only mechanism for Toronto to secure a return before he reaches free agency this winter.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider praised the departing right-hander, stating, Kev will go down as one of the best free agent signings the organization has made, especially from a pitching standpoint,
as reported by Sportsnet. Over four and a half seasons in Toronto, Gausman posted a 3.62 ERA across 148 starts and 861 innings.
Upcoming Schedule and Roster Impact
Due to the timing of the deal, Gausman could potentially make his first start in a Cubs uniform this coming Thursday against his former team when the Blue Jays visit Wrigley Field for a makeup game, according to Mlbtraderumors. The newest Chicago starter will join a depth mix that includes Peterson, Javier Assad, Colin Rea, and Edward Cabrera, who is currently on a minor league rehab assignment.
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