The Chicago Cubs are running out of healthy, dependable arms, and the trade deadline clock is getting louder. MLB has set the 2026 deadline for Aug. 3 at 6 p.m. ET, using its permitted window between July 28 and Aug. 3 to avoid conflicts with scheduled games. Jameson Taillon has only recently returned, while Edward Cabrera is not expected back until the middle of August. Ben Brown has no firm timetable, and Daniel Palencia remains weeks away from rejoining the bullpen.
Chicago needs more than another emergency depth move. It needs a starter who can absorb innings, protect the relief corps and handle postseason pressure.
Kevin Gausman fits that description, even if his 4.51 ERA does not advertise it. The 35 year old Toronto right hander has recorded 117 strikeouts through 21 starts, while his 3.67 FIP suggests he has pitched better than his record of 4 wins and 9 losses indicates. He also produced a 2.93 ERA across 30.2 postseason innings during Toronto’s 2025 run to the World Series.
As a pending free agent, Gausman should cost less than a younger starter with several years of club control. That balance makes him one of the cleanest fits available to Chicago.
His ERA hides a better deadline bet
A 4.51 ERA hardly screams ace. Look beneath that number, however, and Gausman still owns several traits that contenders value.
His 3.67 FIP sits nearly a full run below his ERA. He has struck out 23.8% of opposing hitters while walking only 6.9%, an impressive combination for a pitcher whose overall results have been uneven.
Chicago does not need Gausman to act as a saviour. The Cubs need him to attack the strike zone, keep the offence within reach and ease the pressure on a worn bullpen every 5th day. His splitter remains a reliable finishing pitch, while his fastball creates enough separation to stop hitters from simply waiting for the off speed offering.
Durability strengthens his case. Gausman made 31 starts and threw 174.2 innings in 2022. He followed that season with 185 innings in 2023 and 181 innings in 2024, again making 31 starts in both campaigns. Last year, he reached a career high 193 innings across 32 starts.
That consistency placed him among only 4 pitchers in Blue Jays history to make at least 30 starts in 4 consecutive seasons. It also allowed Toronto to trust him when the schedule became more demanding.
October provided further proof. Gausman posted a 2.93 ERA across 6 postseason appearances in 2025, including 5 starts and 2 World Series outings against Los Angeles. Chicago needs a pitcher who can survive the summer and remain effective when games become tighter. Gausman has already shown he can do both.
Chicago needs more than another patch
Injuries have stripped away the pitching depth Chicago expected to carry through the season. Taillon’s return helps, but it does not solve the wider problem.
Cabrera remains sidelined with left hamstring and adductor injuries. Brown is recovering from a stress reaction in his neck. Palencia has made limited progress with a right flexor strain, while Justin Steele still faces a long recovery process.
The Cubs have already added pitching support, but depth moves cannot replace a dependable postseason starter. Gausman gives manager Craig Counsell a veteran who can slot near the front of the rotation without forcing every returning arm into an immediate heavy workload.
Chicago can also acquire him without asking him to waive his limited no trade protection. The Cubs are not among the 8 clubs on Gausman’s blocked list. That removes one possible complication and leaves Toronto’s asking price as the primary obstacle.
A Gausman and Hoffman package raises the stakes
Jays Clubhouse recently presented a public trade concept that would send both Gausman and closer Jeff Hoffman to Chicago. The roster logic is straightforward. Gausman stabilises the rotation, while Hoffman strengthens the late innings.
Hoffman is not a rental. He signed a 3 year, $33 million contract before the 2025 season, with incentives that can increase the total value to $39 million. His guaranteed deal runs through 2027, giving Toronto far more leverage than it holds in negotiations involving Gausman alone.
A package containing both pitchers would allow the Cubs to address 2 major weaknesses in one move. Toronto, however, would demand a considerably stronger prospect return.
Blue Jays supporters reflected that tension in their reaction to the concept. One fan said the club should accept it “in a heartbeat,” while others questioned whether the suggested return contained enough value or whether Toronto needed another catching prospect. Yet those responses offer only a snapshot of public sentiment. The front office must judge the package on prospect quality, financial flexibility and its plans for 2027.
That distinction matters because Hoffman carries value beyond the current season. Toronto can keep him as a late inning anchor, while Gausman’s expiring contract creates more urgency.
Chicago faces a different calculation. A deal centred only on Gausman offers the cleaner path and preserves more of the farm system. Adding Hoffman provides a larger immediate upgrade, but it also pushes the cost into a different category.
Gausman’s slump gives Chicago negotiating leverage
Toronto cannot judge Gausman only by his record. His strikeout rate, proven workload and postseason résumé still make him attractive in a market crowded with teams searching for starting pitching.
The Blue Jays could improve their return by paying part of the salary remaining on his $110 million contract. Chicago, though, has a strong counterargument when negotiations turn to prospect value.
Recent form has weakened Toronto’s position. Gausman has recorded a 7.85 ERA across his past 6 starts, with only 1 strong performance during that stretch. His age and pending free agency already limit the ceiling of the return.
That slump gives Jed Hoyer room to push back on an aggressive asking price. Rather than paying for Gausman’s past reputation, the Cubs can argue that they are assuming the risk attached to his current command, recent results and remaining salary.
Chicago can also point out that a rental offers no long term protection if the downturn continues. Toronto may respond by emphasising his underlying numbers and October experience, but every poor outing brings the market price closer to Chicago’s preferred range.
It creates a narrow bargaining window. The Blue Jays still possess a useful starter at a position every contender values, yet the Cubs have enough evidence to resist surrendering one of their best prospects.
Gausman makes Chicago better in October
No trade for a 35 year old rental comes without risk. Gausman’s recent results demand caution, and Chicago must value him as the pitcher he is now rather than the ace he was at his peak.
Even so, the fit remains difficult to ignore. His control is still reliable. The splitter continues to miss bats. Years of heavy workloads show that he can take the ball consistently, while his 2025 postseason performance proves he can handle strong lineups under pressure.
Acquiring Gausman would not fix every weakness on Chicago’s pitching staff. It would give Counsell a proven starter, reduce the strain on the bullpen and make the Cubs a tougher opponent in October.
Gausman improves Chicago immediately. Jed Hoyer now has to use the veteran’s recent slump to make sure the Cubs do not overpay for that upgrade.
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FAQS
1. Why are the Cubs interested in Kevin Gausman?
He offers innings, strikeouts and postseason experience to a rotation weakened by injuries.
2. What is Kevin Gausman’s contract situation?
Gausman is in the final season of his 5 year, $110 million Blue Jays contract. He can become a free agent after 2026.
3. When is the 2026 MLB trade deadline?
MLB set the deadline for Aug. 3 at 6 p.m. ET.
4. Can Kevin Gausman block a trade to the Cubs?
No. Chicago is not among the 8 teams on his limited no trade list.
5. How has Kevin Gausman pitched recently?
He has a 7.85 ERA over his past 6 starts, giving Chicago a reason to challenge Toronto’s asking price.
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