TORONTO — It appears as if Kevin Gausman’s time with the Toronto Blue Jays has come to an end.
The veteran right-hander was traded by the Blue Jays to the Chicago Cubs on Sunday, according to several media reports.
Those same reports say that Toronto is getting outfielder Brett Bateman and infielder Ty Southisene, both prospects.
Gausman signed a five-year, US$110-million deal with the Blue Jays on Dec. 21, 2021 and has been one of Toronto’s most reliable starters for five seasons.
Gausman, like the Blue Jays, has struggled this season. He has a 4-10 record with a 4.51 ERA and 123 strikeouts over 121 2/3 innings pitched.
A year removed from playing in the World Series, Toronto (52-60) finds itself a seller ahead of baseball’s trade deadline on Monday. The Blue Jays are last in the American League East, 4 1/2 games out of a wild-card berth.
Chicago is Gausman’s sixth team over a 14-year MLB career. He was taken fourth overall by the Baltimore Orioles in the 2012 draft, playing there from 2013 to 2018 when he was traded to the Atlanta Braves. Atlanta designated him for assignment in early August 2019, allowing the Cincinnati Reds to pick him up.
Gausman signed with the San Francisco Giants that off-season, playing there for two years before joining the Blue Jays.
Playing in Toronto has arguably been the highlight of his career, earning his second all-star appearance in 2023 and finishing third in Cy Young Award voting.
He played a critical role in the Blue Jays run to the World Series in 2025.
Gausman went 2-3 with a 2.93 ERA across five playoff starts, including allowing just four hits over 6 2/3 innings of Game 2 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He then struck out eight batters over six strong innings in Game 6 of the World Series.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 2, 2026.
The Canadian Press
