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Cubs could pluck from Blue Jays rotation with Toronto nearing trade deadline fire sale

A bet on his experience.
ByJordan Campbell|
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Jun 13, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Kevin Gausman (34) throws a pitch against the New York Yankees during the first inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Jun 13, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Kevin Gausman (34) throws a pitch against the New York Yankees during the first inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

It's been said many different ways, but the point remains, the Chicago Cubs are in search of pitching ahead of the 2026 trade deadline. It's become practice to point to the San Francisco Giants and New York Mets as potential trade partners for the Cubs, but as August 3 gets closer, teams on the bubble of selling will need to make a decision.

One of those teams are the Toronto Blue Jays. The Blue Jays entered Wednesday in last place in the American League East, trailing the Tampa Bay Rays by 12.5 games. With a record of 46-55, Toronto is six games out of the final spot in the American League Wild Card.

The Jays have one more game against the Rays on Thursday before facing surging Boston Red Sox over the weekend, and series against the Washington Nationals and St. Louis Cardinals before the deadline. Short of them stacking wins over the next week, chances are that the Blue Jays will be a surprise seller at the deadline.

Kevin Gausman is the exact starting pitcher the Cubs are looking for at the 2026 trade deadline

If that's the case, there's a clear trade deadline target for the Cubs. Kevin Gausman is in the final year of a five-year deal, sporting an ERA of 4.51 through 21 starts this season. As was the case when the Cubs traded for David Peterson, there's reason to believe that Gausman could benefit from playing with an improved defense behind him.

Gausman is striking out over 23% of the hitters he's facing this year, and walking under 7%. With a BABIP of .306 and a groundball rate of 37.8%, it's possible that there are batted balls finding gaps between Toronto's fielders, and would be vaccumed up by the Cubs' defense. In that sense, Gausman's FIP is 3.67, suggesting he could have a strong finish to the season.

If the goal for the Cubs is to add a starting pitcher to their rotation capable of taking the mound in October, Gausman would check that box. He was a part of the Blue Jays' playoff rotation last year, and made two World Series starts against the Los Angeles Dodgers. For what the trade should cost the Cubs, considering Gausman is a rental with checkered numbers this season, it would be a worthwhile gamble for Jed Hoyer and Carter Hawkins.

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