TORONTO, ON- JULY 21 – Kevin Gausman #34 of the Toronto Blue Jays leaves the mound after giving up three runs in the third inning as the Toronto Blue Jays play the Tampa Bay Rays at Rogers Centre in Toronto. July 21, 2026. Steve Russell/Toronto Star (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
Toronto Star via Getty Images
Former Toronto Blue Jays star Kevin Gausman has quickly given the Chicago Cubs a glimpse of why the Blue Jays valued him so highly for five seasons, even as Toronto looks toward the future after trading one of the team’s most accomplished pitchers in recent history.
The veteran right-hander has delivered several strong performances for Chicago since arriving from Toronto at the trade deadline, though his latest start was less than ideal, giving up seven earned runs in four innings to the rival Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday.
The Cubs will be hoping he can return to the form his showed in his previous outing against the Brewers, when the veteran starter helped the Cubs earn a win over the National League Central leaders on September 3.
“Tasked with avoiding a series loss against the rival Brewers, the veteran righty took the hill at Wrigley Field and delivered a vintage performance to lead the North Siders to the win column,” Jordan Bastian wrote for MLB.com. “Gausman gave Chicago seven strong innings to set up a 2-1 win – powered by a home run from the Cubs’ MVP candidate, center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong. With the victory, the Cubs left home with a split of the four-game set against the National League Central-leading Brewers, who hold an eight-game lead in the division standings.”
While Gausman and the Cubs have moved on to their own playoff chase, the Blue Jays won’t quickly forget the impact of their long-time ace. During his tenure, Gasuman forged lasting relationships with many members of the organization, including manager John Schneider.
Chicago Cubs Star Kevin Gausman Opens Up About Toronto Blue Jays Manager After Trade
Gausman joined Toronto on a five-year, $110 million contract in December 2021 and quickly became one of the most reliable starters in franchise history. But then the Blue Jays traded him to Chicago for prospects Brett Bateman and Ty Southisene as the organization shifted toward its future.
In a recent interview, Gausman recalled that he and Schneider grew emotional as the skipper shared the news of the trade with him during a team flight.
“During his tenure, Schneider progressed from bench coach to interim manager to manager,” The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal noted. “And last season, the Jays came within two outs of winning the World Series, drawing the pitcher and manager even closer.”
Given their close relationship and history, Gausman was able to offer some unique insight into Schneider’s history with the team, which he described as a work in progress following his departure to the Cubs.
“It wasn’t necessarily pretty early on, but he’s gotten better and better, the more he’s done it,” Gausman said of Schneider’s managing performance, per Rosenthal.
Toronto Blue Jays Move Forward With Kevin Gausman Now With Chicago Cubs
Gausman’s departure was one of the clearest signs that Toronto’s plans had changed. The Blue Jays entered 2026 coming off a World Series appearance but ultimately became sellers at the trade deadline, with Gausman representing one of their most valuable veteran trade pieces.
For Chicago, the move was about adding a proven starter for the stretch run. Gausman’s seven-inning, nine-strikeout performance against Milwaukee showed exactly what the Cubs hoped to acquire. He allowed five hits and one run while throwing 103 pitches. However, his inconsistency has been a problem all season.
For Toronto, meanwhile, Gausman’s message about John Schenider was a reminder of what the franchise gave up when it chose a different direction.
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