One of the biggest needs for the Chicago Cubs this season has been their starting rotation. They have seemingly found their answer by acquiring Kevin Gausman from the Toronto Blue Jays. They will be sending Brett Bateman and Ty Southisene back to Toronto. Not only is this the Cubs fixing their starting rotation, but the first move in the Blue Jays being sellers. It’s a sign that they will shift their focus to the 2027 season and beyond. But how will both teams be able to benefit from this deal?
Breaking Down the Kevin Gausman Trade
The Cubs Perspective
As mentioned before, the Cubs have needed help in their rotation for months. They were so desperate for help that they acquired David Peterson a month before the deadline, in hopes he would help them tread water. Peterson has given the Cubs mixed results, so they had to come away from this deadline with at least one high-leverage arm. While hopes of an NL Central title seem unlikely as they are 6.5 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers, they are still in a playoff spot. They hold the top Wild Card spot in the National League and have built a four-game cushion between them and the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Gausman has been a solid starter this season. In 127 1/3 innings this season, he has pitched to a 4.38 ERA with 127 strikeouts to 36 walks, a 1.288 WHIP, and an ERA+ of 102. While it is not one of his more dominant seasons, he has put the Blue Jays in a position to win. Something the Cubs are in desperate need of right now. He has also demonstrated an ability to pitch in the postseason. In 56 1/3 postseason innings, he has pitched to a 3.56 ERA. Gausman is someone that the Cubs can put on the mound for Game One or a clinching game of the series, and know that the pressure won’t get to him.
The Blue Jays Perspective
It has not been the season the Blue Jays were hoping for. After going all the way to the seventh game of the World Series last year, many felt their window was just opening. But so far this season, they are 52-60 and sit dead last in the AL East. They are also 4.5 games back of the last wild-card spot with five teams ahead of them. At the beginning of the month, it appeared they were going to buy and make a try to make a push. But with them being so far out and buried, the front office embraced more of a re-tool approach. Move on from expiring contracts like Gausman and hope they can help land you a piece that will help you contend next season.
Southisene is the big piece the Jays are getting in this deal. He is the 13th overall prospect in the Cubs system according to MLB Pipeline. He has a very patient approach at the plate and is seen as a guy who is just trying to get to first. Whether that be a walk or a single. He plays a solid shortstop, but concerns about his arm strength have caused him to play second as well. On the other hand, Bateman was ranked as the 21st prospect in the Cubs system. The key to his game is his speed on the base path. Similar to Southisene, he does not hit for much power. So his goal is to make contact with the ball and take an extra base with his speed.
