A fresh Blue Jays rumor has at least one Guardians wrinkle working in Cleveland’s favor: Kevin Gausman’s no-trade clause does not include the Guardians.
That matters because Cleveland has lived through the other version of this story before. Back in 2016, catcher Jonathan Lucroy became a villain in the city without ever playing a game there, using his no-trade clause to block a deal to the Indians after Cleveland couldn’t promise him the starting catching job the following season.
The Guardians were in the middle of an all-in push toward an American League Central title then, and ownership had already approved the kind of aggressive move that brought in Brandon Guyer and Andrew Miller. Lucroy’s refusal left a mark anyway.
This time, the name on the rumor mill is Gausman, and the early news is at least cleaner for Cleveland. On Wednesday afternoon, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported that Gausman can block trades to eight teams: the Reds, Brewers, Tigers, Mets, A’s, White Sox, Pirates and Mariners. The Guardians are not on that list.
The eight teams to which Kevin Gausman can block a trade, according to people briefed on his contract: Reds, Brewers, Tigers, Mets, A’s, White Sox, Pirates, Mariners. Most teams likely to be interested are free to acquire him without restriction.
- Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 22, 2026
That doesn’t mean the Guardians are about to land him. It just means they don’t have to eliminate him before the conversation even starts, which is a small but welcome change for a team that has too often found itself shut out before the deadline fun even begins.
Gausman himself addressed the possibility of a move on Wednesday in comments to The Athletic’s Mitch Bannon, saying he would be sad to leave Toronto but understands his time there could be nearing its end.
The Blue Jays’ loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday dropped them to 43-60, and that record makes a sell-off feel more and more likely as the deadline approaches. If Toronto does start dealing, Gausman would be one of the biggest chips on the table.
His season line is uneven - a 4.51 ERA in 115 2/3 innings - but the larger body of work still stands out. Over five seasons with the Blue Jays, he has a 3.62 ERA in 849 1/3 innings, and he was excellent during Toronto’s postseason run last year, turning in a 2.93 ERA in 30 2/3 innings.
For Cleveland, the fit is obvious. The Guardians would not be asking Gausman to come in and rescue the whole rotation the way a club like the Padres or Rangers might. Instead, he’d slot in behind Parker Messick, Gavin Wiliams and Tanner Bibee as a No. 4 starter, with the chance to become a swingman option once October arrives.
The Guardians’ streak of getting by with only five starters ended last weekend when Logan Allen started the second game of a doubleheader, but the need for another arm is still plain. Gausman would check that box in a hurry.
In Other News...
Guardians Just Got A Lululemon Drop Fans Will Definitely Debate
Lululemon is stepping into MLB fandom with a new apparel collection that gives every team its own spin, including the Guardians. The line blends the brands performance-and-lifestyle look with official team branding, and Clevelands version is built around team colors, logos, and the kind of everyday pieces fans can wear beyond the ballpark.
For Guardians followers, the appeal is less about a one-off novelty item and more about how naturally the collection fits into the wardrobe conversation. The drop includes mens apparel and accessories along with cozy layers and lighter essentials, but the full lineup is still broad enough to leave room for debate over which pieces actually feel like a must-have and which ones are more for the diehards. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Fans Have Heard This Deadline Message Before
The Guardians are once again in the familiar spot of weighing deadline upgrades while staying in the thick of a playoff race, and Chris Antonetti is making the same basic point he usually does this time of year: the front office will look for ways to improve, but nothing is promised. Cleveland has kept itself in the hunt, which makes the next few weeks feel important, especially for a club that has already shown it is willing to move when it sees a fit.
What stands out this time is where the need seems clearest. The lineup has been too quiet too often, and a recent extra-innings loss to the Twins, in which Cleveland went 0-for-17 with only three hits, only sharpened that concern. If the Guardians are going to make a move, the offense feels like the obvious place to start, but as always with this front office, the message is to wait and see whether the talks turn into something more concrete. [Read more 🡒]