The Toronto Blue Jays needed to make a troublesome name earlier than the 2026 MLB commerce deadline.
Kevin Gausman had been so good for them, however they have been solely on the periphery of the playoff race, and he was within the final yr of his contract.
That led the Blue Jays to commerce Gausman to the Chicago Cubs, a transfer that felt logical even when a bit exhausting from a sentimental standpoint.
Toronto did certainly miss the playoffs, and the Cubs obtained in — though they obtained swept in two video games within the NL Wild Card Spherical by the San Diego Padres.
Gausman now, because the Blue Jays knew on the time, might be a free agent.
There are potential retirement whispers to come back, however it will make sense for Gausman to maintain pitching so long as he needs to.
And if he retains pitching, it wouldn’t be a shock if he ended up again in a Blue Jays uniform. Numerous indicators level that means.
Hints of Kevin Gausman Returning to Blue Jays
Gausman has really given a number of completely different indications about simply how a lot Toronto has meant for him. When you break it down, it’s exhausting to see how he may think about signing someplace else.
“The appropriate-hander additionally made clear upon being traded away from the Jays that leaving Toronto was a particularly bittersweet expertise; Gausman defined that whereas he relished the chance to return to the postseason, Toronto was the place he’d raised his daughters and the town had come to really feel like residence,” writes Steve Adams of MLB Commerce Rumors. “He even spoke of eager to take his women to Jays video games as a fan and present them round the remainder of Canada in his post-playing days. A return to the Jays shouldn’t be a shock, however Gausman can have a wholesome market of bidders if he continues pitching.”
When you learn that, you possibly can positively image Gausman selecting the Blue Jays as his new-old vacation spot in free company.
Given the household implications, it will possible make it simpler for Gausman to maintain enjoying versus contemplating retirement. If his household is snug there, that saves one variable that may in any other case lean towards hanging up his spikes.
Potential Impression
Gausman wasn’t nice after he went to the Cubs, which might be the one factor that would give the Blue Jays some pause right here.
Total, although, he’s obtained such a very good observe file that if he needs to check in Toronto, the Blue Jays shouldn’t have a lot hesitation.
“Gausman’s five-year, $110MM take care of the Blue Jays spanned the 2022-26 seasons and has been among the finest free agent investments in current reminiscence,” Adams writes. “He made 31 or 32 begins and totaled at the very least 174 innings in all 5 years of the contract. He posted a robust stroll charge every season and delivered a sub-4.00 ERA and above-average strikeout charge in 4 of the 5. His ERA spiked to 4.51 this season, however Gausman’s strikeout charge (24.5%), stroll charge (6.3%) and ground-ball charge (40.1%) all remained close to or higher than league common. The first perpetrator for Gausman was a bounce to a 12.7% homer-to-flyball charge and a corresponding dip in strand charge. Metrics like SIERA (3.67) and xFIP (3.58) don’t really feel he was materially completely different than within the previous 4 seasons.”
There may’ve additionally been some robust psychological and emotional stuff at play for Gausman that merely got here with abruptly being shipped out of Toronto within the first place.
Gamers carry out higher once they’re snug each on and off the sector. The Blue Jays appear to supply that chance for Gausman.
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