Blue Jays' Kevin Gausman trade update is a bit surprising

The Toronto Blue Jays are hovering around .500, and there's a lot of the MLB season still to go. They won't be rushing to any quick judgments.

But if things take a negative turn, it could bring about some Kevin Gausman trade rumors that likely wouldn't have been expected before this season.

The Blue Jays entered the year trying to build off a trip to Game 7 of the World Series. Gausman remained at the front of the rotation to lead the way.

The big right-hander has pitched very well, too -- Toronto's struggles aren't his fault.

But Gausman is also in the final year of his current contract. That's why ESPN's Jeff Passan writes in a new article on Thursday that if things go south, the Blue Jays could look to send Gausman away before the early-August trade deadline.

"(They are) average enough so far that sending away an impending free agent such as Gausman is not entirely farfetched," Passan writes.

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Interestingly, Passan also sees a path toward the Blue Jays adding another top-end starter: Sandy Alcantara.

"The Blue Jays are far from that point, though, and they're the sort of team capable of making up significant-enough ground over the next two months not only to put themselves among the acquirers but to throw their hat in the ring for (Tarik) Skubal or (Freddy) Peralta," Passan writes. "They're not there yet, either, which is why Alcántara -- who could replace Gausman in the rotation if he leaves in free agency this winter -- makes sense."

It definitely would mean the season went in a bad direction if Gausman ends the year in another uniform.

For now, no such thing is happening. But there's a path where it could, and Toronto will want to avoid that.

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