Blue Jays Could Bring Back Star They Just Traded
They might be getting him back in a few months.
The Athletic's Mitch Bannon wrote in his final regular-season column that Gausman will enter free agency after the postseason. "Like Springer and Scherzer, it's unclear if Gausman's playing days are over," Bannon wrote.
"If he returns, a reunion with Toronto seems likely."
That's a big if. Gausman told Bannon in February that retirement was on his mind in the final year of his contract.
Toronto Moved Him Before Free Agency
The Blue Jays sent Gausman to the Cubs on August 2, the night before the deadline.
Chicago gave up outfielder Brett Bateman and infielder Ty Southisene, the Blue Jays' No. 20 and No. 17 prospects.
Gausman was 5-10 with a 4.38 ERA at the time, and he had a 6.47 ERA over his previous eight starts. He was still a workhorse.
He didn't miss a turn through Toronto's rotation after signing his five-year, $110 million deal, and only Logan Webb and Dylan Cease made more regular-season starts since 2022.
RUMOR: If Kevin Gausman doesn’t retire, signing in Toronto seems likely @MitchBannon on it. https://t.co/M0Z7ogKxs1
— Jays insight (@JaysInsight) September 28, 2026
In five seasons with the Blue Jays, he posted a 3.62 ERA with 920 strikeouts in 861 innings, and he led the AL with 237 strikeouts in 2023 and finished third in Cy Young voting.
Last October, he had a 2.93 ERA in 30.2 innings, the most in a single postseason in franchise history, as Toronto reached the World Series.
Chicago Could Complicate Things
Gausman finished the year with a 4.51 ERA in 32 starts, 177.2 innings, and 184 strikeouts, his worst ERA since 2019.
He went 4-2 with a 4.83 ERA in nine appearances for the Cubs, and he pitched in the Wild Card round, throwing 3.1 innings in Game 2 against San Diego.
Bleacher Nation pointed out that Jed Hoyer has wanted Gausman for a long time and that the Cubs pursued him in an earlier free agent market.
Clay Holmes and Shota Imanaga are also expected to reach free agency, which leaves Chicago with its own rotation holes.
Toronto has other targets, too.
Bannon reported the Blue Jays are expected to pursue Seiya Suzuki and have mutual interest in a Shane Bieber reunion.
