Chicago Cubs acquire pitcher Kevin Gausman from the Toronto Blue Jays
The Chicago Cubs have acquired veteran right-hander Kevin Gausman from the Toronto Blue Jays to bolster their starting rotation ahead of the postseason push.
The 35-year-old moves to Wrigley Field as an impending free agent at the close of the trade deadline.
He is currently in the final season of a five-year, $110m (£86m) contract initially signed with the Canadian franchise.
During that span, the American pitcher generated 20.1 Wins Above Replacement, establishing himself as one of baseball’s most valuable arms.
Playoff pedigree and pitching arsenal
This season, the former Baltimore Orioles and San Francisco Giants starter holds a 5-10 record with a 4.38 earned run average and 127 strikeouts.
His elite profile relies heavily on a standout fastball and changeup combination, though his breaking ball development has lagged behind.
The veteran holds the Statcast-era record for career strikeouts via the splitter, registering an impressive 490 punch-outs with the pitch.
While his fastball velocity has dipped slightly in recent years, his transition into a dependable number three starter remains invaluable for October baseball.
A reliable arm for the postseason
Since 2021, the experienced righty has thrown the third-most innings across the major leagues.
That exceptional durability translates to a proven track record in the playoffs, where he holds a respectable 3.83 ERA across eight career starts.
Over 14 major league campaigns, the dependable starter has accumulated 2,081 total strikeouts and a 3.85 ERA.
Chicago will hope that extensive pedigree provides the decisive edge in their pursuit of a deep and successful postseason run.