The Chicago Cubs have agreed to acquire 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, according to reporting from The Athletic. Neither organization has made an official announcement.
Gausman, 38 years old, is in the final year of a five-year, $110 million contract and represents a rental acquisition for the Cubs. The pitcher previously served as Toronto’s top starter and finished third in AL Cy Young Award voting in 2023. This season, he carries a 4.38 ERA with 127 strikeouts across 127⅓ innings pitched in 23 starts.
The Cubs have experienced significant rotation challenges, with their pitching staff facing substantial injury setbacks earlier this summer. The organization indicated plans to add multiple pitchers before the Monday trade deadline and views this acquisition as the first of potentially several moves. Gausman provides established reliability and postseason experience for a team seeking both quality and quantity in its innings pitched.
For Toronto, the trade represents a shift toward a selling posture at the deadline. The Blue Jays have struggled since the All-Star break and currently trail the third AL wild-card position by 4½ games. Fellow rental players Shane Bieber, George Springer, and Daulton Varsho are expected to be available for trade.
The prospects heading to Toronto include Southisene, a 21-year-old shortstop hitting .306/.425/.372 across Single-A levels with strong defensive capabilities, and Bateman, a 24-year-old outfielder in Triple-A with a .312/.430/.421 slash line who is recognized for his plate discipline and speed. Both prospects were ranked among Toronto’s top 25 prospects prior to the transaction.
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