Blue Jays reunion could give Kevin Gausman the perfect farewell

The Toronto Blue Jays' starting rotation in 2026 took a hard hit with injuries. Needing to rely on bullpen days for much of the second half of the season, Toronto will definitely be looking for rotation pieces in the coming offseason.

One of the other key moments of the season was trading away reliable ace, Kevin Gausman, at the trade deadline. He was sent to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for Brett Bateman and Ty Southisene. Gausman will hit free agency after the end of the 2026 season and if he doesn't retire, a reunion with an old friend seems likely in 2027.

Kevin Gausman and the Blue Jays are expected to have interest in a reunion

In his final write-up of the 2026 regular season, The Athletic's Mitch Bannon hinted at a strong possibility of Kevin Gausman returning to the Blue Jays for 2027.

"Like Springer and Scherzer, it’s unclear if Gausman’s playing days are over. If he returns, a reunion with Toronto seems likely," said Bannon. The hindering thought of the rumor, though, is retirement. Back in February, Bannon interviewed Gausman in Dunedin, where the two-time All-Star said retirement is on his mind in the final year of his contract.

"It's definitely a possibility. I have really loved my time [in Toronto]. Do I know what's ahead of me? I don't know. No idea. It's something that I have definitely thought about in the offseason."

Recent reports suggest Toronto is the only place for a reunion. After all, why wouldn't he want to come back? Gausman's best years on the mound came north of the border.

During his time in a Blue Jays uniform, he posted a career-high 12.5 WAR, with a 3.62 ERA and 920 strikeouts in 861 innings. His best season came in 2023, when he came third in Cy Young voting thanks to a 3.16 ERA and a 12-9 record in 31 starts with a season-best 237 strikeouts.

Chicago acquired Gausman at the deadline for rotation help in their bid for a spot in the 2026 postseason. Gausman posted a 4-2 record with a 4.83 ERA in nine appearances. It was good enough for the Cubs to secure the No. 5 seed and get into the Wild Card round against the San Diego Padres.

After suffering a shoulder injury in his final start of the season, it looked like Gausman's status was up in the air. However, he's been named as the Game 2 starter for the Cubs for Wednesday's game (Sept. 30). He'll look to keep the Cubs season alive after they dropped Game 1, 8-0.

A reunion with Gausman seems like a no-brainer. The Blue Jays' projected 2027 starting rotation consists of Dylan Cease, José Soriano, Cody Ponce, and Trey Yesavage. With an empty fifth spot, Gausman could fill that role should he decide not to retire. Despite other reports that Shane Bieber could also return.

Last season, the Blue Jays thought they had starting pitching depth, only for it to evaporate after April. If Gausman returns, Toronto would be on the right path to rebuild the depth that was lost throughout the season. Plus, with how much Kevin Gausman and his family raved about the city and its fans, it only makes sense for the fan favorite to retire a Blue Jay.

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