Kevin Gausman’s time with the Toronto Blue Jays came to an end after four and a half seasons when the club dealt the veteran right-hander to the Chicago Cubs ahead of the MLB trade deadline. The move closed one of the most successful pitching stints in recent franchise history, with Gausman helping the Blue Jays reach the postseason three times, including their run to the 2025 World Series.
The Cubs acquired the 35-year-old to bolster a rotation for the stretch run. Gausman arrives in Chicago after posting a 5-10 record with a 4.38 ERA and 127 strikeouts across 127⅓ innings in 23 starts this season. His departure also means he will get an early reunion with his former club, as the Cubs and Blue Jays meet Thursday in the makeup game of their postponed contest.
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Speaking Wednesday, Gausman confirmed he will make his Cubs debut Friday against the Kansas City Royals, meaning he will not pitch against the Blue Jays in Thursday’s game.
“It was a little crazy but really excited to be around these guys and watching the team play the last two days. Like, why wouldn’t you be excited?” (h/t Meghan Montemurro of The Chicago Tribune).
Gausman is in the final season of the five-year, $110 million contract he signed with Toronto before the 2022 season, making him an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.
The Cubs acquired him as a rental for their postseason push, but if he performs well over the final two months, the club could look to negotiate a new deal this winter. A return to Toronto also cannot be ruled out given the success he enjoyed during his four-plus seasons with the organization, though his immediate focus is helping Chicago reach October.
While Gausman waits another day for his Cubs debut, Chicago will send David Peterson to the mound against the Blue Jays in Thursday’s makeup game at Wrigley Field, with Dylan Cease starting for Toronto. The Cubs (65-49) enter the contest holding the National League’s top wild card position and chasing the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central, while the Blue Jays (53-61) continue trying to stay alive in the American League wild card race.
