Kevin Gausman’s run in Toronto is over, but the message he left behind made it clear the connection is still very real.
The veteran right-hander was traded to the Chicago Cubs on Sunday night, with infielder Ty Southisene and outfielder Brett Bateman heading back to the Blue Jays. After nearly five seasons in Toronto, Gausman is on the move again, and the Cubs will be the sixth team of his career.
For Blue Jays fans, he was more than just another arm in the rotation. Gausman became a fixture, piling up 30-plus starts in four straight seasons and anchoring the staff through a stretch that included Toronto’s trip to the 2025 World Series. He was one of the most reliable presences on the roster, and the reaction to his departure reflected that.
On X, Gausman posted a goodbye that matched the moment. It reads, "Toronto (followed by three red heart emojis), So, many great memories with amazing people that I will cherish forever!
Getting to represent an entire country was truly an honour that I never took for granted! Love you all!"
Toronto ❤️❤️❤️ So many great memories with amazing people that i will cherish forever! Getting to represent an entire country was truly an honour that i never took for granted! Love you all!
He later said the emotions around the deadline have not erased the bond he feels with the city. Speaking on the 6ix Inning Stretch Podcast, Gausman said, "I didn't take for granted being able to represent the entire country.
This isn't goodbye," Gausman said via the 6ix Inning Stretch Podcast. "I plan on coming back, even when I'm retired, whenever that is.
I'll be around, so don't be surprised if you see me around Toronto."
That leaves at least a sliver of possibility for a reunion down the road, since the 35-year-old is set to hit free agency after the season.
For now, though, his focus shifts to Chicago. Gausman is scheduled to make his Cubs debut on Friday against the Kansas City Royals.
Toronto’s deadline day was emotional in more ways than one. Gausman was not the only long-tenured Blue Jay dealt, with center fielder Daulton Varsho sent to the Houston Astros on Monday. Both players were brought to tears, a sign of how hard the deadline hit this group.
The Blue Jays, meanwhile, have to keep moving. They enter Wednesday at 53-61 and four games out of a wild-card spot, with the postseason still the target.
The front office committed too much money in the offseason to simply pivot into a rebuild after the slow start. That was underscored when the club traded for starting pitcher Jose Soriano. The roster may look different now, but the goal has not changed.
Toronto’s reworked rotation is expected to carry the load, but the lineup has to do its part too. That pressure lands first on Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who needs to set the tone in the new clubhouse.
If the offense doesn’t answer, the Blue Jays’ A.L. Pennant defense could be in real trouble.
In Other News...
Blue Jays Catching Depth Suddenly Looks More Valuable Than Ever
With catcher prices climbing around the league before the trade deadline, Toronto had a reason to take a close look at its own depth chart. Brandon Valenzuela drew interest as clubs scrambled for help behind the plate, and the market only reinforced how hard it can be to find even a short-term fix at the position. Deals involving the Angels, the Red Sox and other teams underscored the premium on catchers, making Torontos depth look like more than just a nice-to-have.
Alejandro Kirks presence as the Blue Jays long-term catcher helped shape that decision, giving the club a clear answer at the top of the depth chart while allowing it to hold onto Valenzuela. For a team that understands how quickly catching depth can disappear, the choice to keep him was less about standing pat and more about preserving an asset in a market where the demand is obvious and the supply is thin. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jays Add Intriguing Starter But One Part Of This Trade Stings
Spencer Arrighetti gives the Blue Jays something they can always use in a rotation search: a young right-hander with upside and years of control. The trade that brought him over from Houston, with Daulton Varsho going the other way, also fits Torontos broader push to keep adding arms that can matter beyond just the next few weeks. Arrighetti had spent his entire big league career with the Astros, so this is a significant change for a pitcher who knew one organization and one clubhouse.
What makes the move sting a little is the human side of it. Arrighetti spoke emotionally about leaving the team he had only ever played for, and he now has to make a fresh start in a different market while working his way back from injury. The Blue Jays are betting that the long view is worth it, since he is under team control through 2029, but the immediate picture still depends on how quickly he gets healthy and settles in once he returns. [Read more 🡒]