Braves’ rotation issues could create perfect trade deadline opening for Blue Jays

The Toronto Blue Jays will almost certainly be sellers at the 2026 trade deadline, and the Atlanta Braves are one team that could be interested in what they have to offer. 

Atlanta has been one of the best teams in the National League this year despite enduring an absurd number of injuries. Their lineup is championship-calibre—it’s their starting pitching that leaves something to be desired. 

Fortunately, the Blue Jays have exactly what the Braves need for their playoff push: veteran starting pitchers on expiring contracts. 

Who could the Blue Jays trade to the Braves?

The Braves have future Hall-of-Famer Chris Sale, who is in the midst of another fantastic season. After him, it’s a quartet of journeymen led by Bryce Elder. It’s also no guarantee that Spencer Strider and Spencer Schwellenbach are their past selves if they return at all in 2026. 

Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos recently said the team would jump on acquiring a playoff-calibre starter. The Blue Jays just so happen to have two of them. 

Kevin Gausman is the most obvious fit on paper. The 35-year-old is in the final year of the contract he signed ahead of the 2022 season, and was excellent in the postseason for the Blue Jays just last fall during their World Series run. 

The issue is that Gausman hasn’t been excellent in 2026. His 4.51 ERA is his highest since 2019 while his 1.2 HR/9 is his worst as a Blue Jay. He’s struggled mightily since the beginning of June, allowing four or more earned runs in six of his nine starts. 

It hasn’t been all bad, however. The right-hander’s 3.67 FIP suggests he’s been let down by some unfortunate luck and bad defence. He’s also struck out a respectable 117 batters in his 115.2 innings despite some clear deterioration in his stuff. 

Gausman would immediately become the Braves’ second-best starting pitcher, giving them a respectable option behind Sale in a playoff series. 

Shane Bieber is another option that Atlanta could consider. His most recent outing—six shutout innings against the Chicago White Sox—was a reminder of what he can do when fully healthy. He, like Gausman, is also on an expiring contract. 

The Blue Jays could likely ask the Braves for two of their top 30 prospects in exchange for Gausman, assuming other teams are interested. Several of Atlanta’s players outside of their top 10 are in Triple-A and could help Toronto as soon as next season. 

Proposed trade

Atlanta Braves get: 
SP Kevin Gausman

Blue Jays get: 
P Garrett Baumann
OF Patrick Clohisy

Bieber, meanwhile, would likely command one prospect in the bottom half of the top 30 based on his questionable health and mixed results this season. 

Whether it’s Gausman, Bieber, or both who ultimately get moved, the Blue Jays shouldn’t hesitate to call up the Braves about a potential trade—their veterans deserve a chance to compete for a title with one of baseball’s best teams. 

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