Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman and his wife, Taylor, spent time on the Rogers Centre field after what might have been his last home start for the team. Taylor Gausman, who was not expected to be in Toronto, surprised her husband by flying in for the occasion. Gausman mentioned that he initially did not want to go onto the field but is now glad they did, expressing a hope to return to Toronto for one more start, possibly next weekend.
Gausman’s next scheduled start is on Sunday at Fenway Park against the Boston Red Sox, followed by an August 1 game against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals. The possibility of Gausman being traded before the upcoming trade deadline is a significant question facing the Blue Jays, who are expected to be sellers.
Reflecting on his time in Toronto
During their time on the field, the Gausmans reminisced about their years in Toronto. Gausman noted that they were fortunate to have been in a place long enough to feel sadness about leaving. He described his decision to join the Blue Jays, over the New York Mets, as the best he could have made. Gausman signed a $110-million deal that concludes after the current season, just before a lockout was imposed in December 2021.
His tenure with the team has included three post-season appearances, an All-Star selection, and a trip to the World Series. Despite these achievements, Gausman acknowledges the business aspect of major league baseball. He expressed a desire to complete his contract with the Blue Jays, as he intended when he signed, but also understands the realities of the sport.
The Blue Jays’ current record stands at 46-55 heading into Wednesday’s games, with their playoff odds calculated at 8.9 per cent by Fangraphs. Gausman, like others within the club, finds it difficult to explain the team’s struggles this season, especially given the returning players and successful additions from the previous year’s team that came close to winning the World Series.
Gausman admitted his own performance has not been consistently strong, particularly in the last month. He reflected on the possibility of leaving and the impact it would have on his family, noting that any new location would likely not compare to Toronto in terms of family comfort.
Trade considerations and future outlook
With a limited number of starting pitchers expected to be available on the market, Gausman is anticipated to draw significant interest, despite his recent performance. His past post-season experience is considered valuable for teams looking for pitchers capable of starting playoff games. His upcoming starts against the Red Sox and potentially the Cardinals could influence his trade value.
Gausman possesses an eight-team no-trade clause, which includes the Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers, Detroit Tigers, Seattle Mariners, Pittsburgh Pirates, Oakland Athletics, Chicago White Sox, and New York Mets, according to an industry source. He discussed this clause with his wife on Tuesday night, noting that some of these teams are currently performing well, which presents a different dynamic compared to past seasons.
One potential trade scenario mentioned involves Gausman moving to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for pitcher Brooks Caple (AA) and outfielder Brett Bateman (AAA). Caple is ranked as Chicago’s third-best rotation prospect, with a 3.15 ERA across High A and Double A this year. Bateman, Chicago’s 18th-ranked prospect, has an .861 OPS at Triple A.
The trade deadline is less than two weeks away, and the Blue Jays are nine games under .500, suggesting they are likely to be sellers. Gausman expressed gratitude for the fanbase’s embrace of him and his family, but also a sense of disappointment that the team’s current situation has led to these difficult considerations.
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Source: sportsnet.ca
