Baseball
Baseball
Cubs Acquire Two-Time All-Star Gausman from Blue Jays, Bolstering Rotation
The Chicago Cubs have reportedly acquired veteran right-handed pitcher Kevin Gausman from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for minor league outfielder Brett Bateman and minor league infielder Ty Southisene. The trade, which neither team has officially announced, signals a significant move for the Cubs as they look to strengthen their pitching staff.
Gausman, a two-time All-Star, was in the final year of a five-year, $110 million contract with the Blue Jays. He finished third in American League Cy Young voting in 2023 and was a key player in Toronto’s pennant-winning team a year ago. This season, the 38-year-old righty holds a 4.38 ERA with 127 strikeouts across 127 ⅓ innings in 23 starts.
The Blue Jays, currently 4 ½ games out of the third AL wild-card spot and 7-9 since the All-Star break, appear to be signaling a sell-off ahead of the trade deadline. Minor league prospects Southisene, ranked as Toronto’s No. 13 prospect, and Bateman, ranked No. 21, will head to the Blue Jays. Bateman, 24, is described as a fast, good-fielding, left-handed batter.
This acquisition addresses a critical need for the Cubs, who have faced significant injury issues with their pitching staff this season. Chicago had reportedly planned to add multiple pitchers before Monday’s trade deadline, and Gausman is expected to be the first of potentially several additions to their roster.
Sources
