Kevin Gausman was a beloved member of the Toronto Blue Jays throughout his time with the team.
Gausman spent four-and-a-half seasons with the Jays and played a key role in Toronto becoming one of the baseball betting favourites at the BetMGM online sportsbook in 2025.
Is Kevin Gausman Leaving the Blue Jays?
Yes, the Blue Jays traded Gausman to the Chicago Cubs on Aug. 2, 2026.
Toronto received Ty Southisene and Brett Bateman in the deal, with the pair slotting in at 17th and 20th on the Jays’ prospect ranking list, respectively.
A free agent at the end of the 2026 season, there hadn’t been much reporting about Gausman signing a contract extension. Gausman had made it clear that he loved playing in Toronto, but with the Jays a long way below .500, the front office decided to trade away the veteran right-hander instead of losing him for free in the offseason.
Southisene was selected in the fourth round in 2024. He’s got a strong hit tool, but has very little power and hasn’t played above High-A. Bateman is a similar player. He also lacks power, and instead relies on top-tier speed, strong swing decisions, and making a lot of contact.
An .851 OPS in Triple-A in 2026 is at least encouraging from Bateman, though this is ultimately a pretty underwhelming trade package for Gausman. These are two low-ceiling players with significant flaws.
Why Did Gausman Get Traded?
Toronto chose to trade Gausman because the team has underperformed in 2026 and he is a free agent at the end of the season.
The Jays decided it was better to receive a couple of prospects rather than risk losing Gausman for nothing this winter.
Who Did the Jays Get For Gausman?
Toronto received Southisene and Bateman for Gausman.
Bateman is a speedy centre fielder. Southisene is a contact-hitting infielder.
When Did Gausman Join the Jays?
Gausman joined the Blue Jays as a free agent in the 2021-22 offseason.
He signed a five-year, $110 million contract.
When Does Gausman’s Contract Expire?
Gausman’s contract expires at the end of the 2026 season.
The right-hander will turn 37 in January 2027.
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