Cubs land Kevin Gausman in blockbuster trade with Blue Jays

The Chicago Cubs spent the days leading up to the MLB trade deadline searching for a starting pitcher capable of making a difference in October.

They finally found one.

Chicago is acquiring veteran right-hander Kevin Gausman in a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported Sunday. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic and Mitch Bannon were first to report the agreement.

The players heading back to Toronto were not immediately revealed.

The move gives the Cubs an experienced arm for the stretch run after the organization made upgrading its rotation a deadline priority. Although Gausman has not produced his best numbers this season, his track record and ability to miss bats make him a potentially significant addition.

Kevin Gausman brings playoff experience to Chicago

Gausman owns a 5-10 record with a 4.38 ERA across 23 starts this season. He has recorded 127 strikeouts and 36 walks over 127.1 innings while posting a 1.29 WHIP.

The Chicago Cubs are acquiring right-hander Kevin Gausman in a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays, a source tells to ESPN. The Cubs have sought a playoff-caliber starting pitcher all deadline, and now they've landed one. First on the news was @Ken_Rosenthal and @MitchBannon.

Those numbers may not immediately jump off the page, but Gausman has shown encouraging signs recently. The 35-year-old allowed only one earned run over 5.2 innings against the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday. He surrendered nine hits but avoided major damage, issuing one walk and striking out four in Toronto’s 5-1 victory.

Gausman also worked six innings against the Boston Red Sox in his previous start, allowing three earned runs while striking out six. Across his final two appearances for the Blue Jays, he recorded a 3.09 ERA with 10 strikeouts and only two walks in 11.2 innings. He joins Chicago with 385 major league appearances, including 345 starts. The two-time All-Star has compiled 2,081 strikeouts across more than 2,000 career innings while pitching for the Baltimore Orioles, Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, San Francisco Giants and Blue Jays.

Gausman also has experience on the postseason stage. He has appeared in 10 playoff games during his career, including eight starts.

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Cubs make their deadline intentions clear

The Cubs entered Sunday with a 61-51 record after a 2-1 loss to the New York Yankees. They remain firmly in the National League playoff race but needed another reliable starter to strengthen their chances of making a deep run.

Gausman gives Chicago a veteran who can absorb innings, generate strikeouts and potentially start an important postseason game.

He also arrives with another year remaining on the five-year, $110 million contract he signed with Toronto before the 2022 season. Gausman is scheduled to earn $23 million in 2027, meaning this is more than a short-term rental for the Cubs.

For the Blue Jays, the trade signals a different direction. Toronto fell to 52-60 with Saturday’s loss to St. Louis and entered Sunday 13.5 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East.

Rather than holding onto Gausman for another season, the Blue Jays elected to move one of their most accomplished starters and add to their future.

The full return will ultimately help determine how the trade is evaluated. For now, however, the immediate message is clear: The Cubs believe they can contend this season, and they have added one of the most established pitchers available to help them do it.

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