The Chicago Cubs made their first big trade ahead of the MLB’s Aug. 3 deadline. Chicago acquired starting pitcher Kevin Gausman in exchange for prospects Brett Bateman and Ty Southisene.
Heading into August, the Cubs have been battling injuries to their starting rotation. Ben Brown, Edward Cabrera, and Justin Steele remain on the injured list.
With this in mind, Chicago isn’t done trading for starters, says The Athletic’s Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma.
“Along with Los Angeles Angels starters Reid Detmers and José Soriano, the Cubs are also interested in Seattle Mariners starters George Kirby and, to a lesser extent, Emerson Hancock,” the insiders wrote. “To swing a deal of that magnitude would require a significant amount of prospect capital.”
“The Cubs seem willing to do that for the right pitcher, but they’re still looking at rental starters as well, a group that includes Clay Holmes and Brady Singer,” Mooney and Sharma added.
Cubs Look to Improve Starting Rotation at Deadline, Trade Jameson Taillon
GettyIn pursuit of improving its starting pitching, the Chicago Cubs traded long-time starter Jameson Taillon to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for cash considerations and “a player to be named later,” wrote ESPN’s Jesse Rogers. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
The Chicago Cubs have shown interest in a large group of starters throughout the MLB. They look to add to a rotation around Shota Imanaga and Matthew Boyd.
This mission has led the Cubs to begin flipping their pitchers for a new batch of starters.
Chicago traded long-time starter Jameson Taillon to the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday, ESPN’s Jesse Rogers reported.
Taillon, 34, was designated for assignment by the Cubs earlier in the week. In exchange for the starter, Chicago is receiving cash considerations and “a player to be named later,” wrote Rogers.
Through 15 games this season, Taillon has a 2-6 record, 5.92 ERA, and 1.36 WHIP through 76.0 innings pitched. The $68 million starter will look to flip his season around with the Blue Jays in a rental year.
Kevin Gausman Provides Postseason Experience for Hopeful Cubs
GettyThe Chicago Cubs are adding a veteran starter who has a lot of postseason experience after trading for Kevin Gausman. Gausman helped lead Toronto to an American League title in 2025, but has struggled through July this season with a 5-10 record, 4.38 ERA, and 1.29 WHIP. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/Getty Images)
In the deal for starting pitcher Kevin Gausman, the Chicago Cubs are looking to add reliable pitching ahead of a hopeful postseason run.
Gausman, 35, was a part of the Toronto Blue Jays team that was just one game short of earning a World Series title. During the Blue Jays’ postseason run, Gausman appeared in six games, finishing with a 2-3 record, 2.93 ERA, and 0.91 WHIP.
He was an important piece of Toronto’s run.
Like the Blue Jays this year, Gausman has struggled in 2026. He will join a Cubs rotation with a 5-10 record, 4.38 ERA, and 1.29 WHIP across 127.1 innings pitched.
Chicago will get Gausman on a rental year. The 35-year-old is in the final season of a five-year, $110 million contract.
Cubs Interested in Multiple Starters Following Kevin Gausman Trade: Report