The Toronto Blue Jays are in a strong position — and that didn’t happen by chance. A large part stems from calculated free agency decisions, where Ross Atkins has repeatedly been one step ahead of the market. Among them, Kevin Gausman stands out as the signature signing of the current era.
When Gausman signed a five-year, $110 million contract with the Blue Jays after the 2021 season, Toronto had just missed the playoffs by… one game. That decision wasn’t just about adding a starter. It was a declaration that the rebuilding phase was over. The competitive era had begun.
At that point, $22 million AAV for a 30-year-old pitcher wasn’t exactly a “safe bet.” The Blue Jays needed a replacement for Robbie Ray — who had just acquired Cy Young and left the free agency. Gausman was expected to bring stability, but there was still doubt: could he maintain the form he had shown in San Francisco?
The answer came sooner than expected.
Gausman isn’t just consistent—he’s become a cornerstone. Since the start of the 2022 season, he’s pitched 125 games for Toronto, accumulating 733.2 innings with an ERA of 3.48, 793 strikeouts, and only 189 walkouts. That’s the kind of production every contender team craves, especially in an increasingly fragile pitching landscape.
Looking more broadly, from 2021 to 2025, Gausman has 158 starting games, an ERA of 3.34, nearly 926 innings, and over 1,000 strikeouts, generating 16.4 WAR—numbers that place him among the most effective free agent starters in decades, according to ESPN’s Buster Olney.
But Gausman’s value isn’t just in the statistics.
He’s a locker room leader. After a disappointing 2024 season, it was Gausman who spoke up, acknowledging reality and setting expectations for the team to bounce back. He delivered, shooting 193 innings with an ERA of 3.59 in 2025, maintaining a K-rate of 24.4% and a BB-rate of just 6.5%. In the postseason, despite lacking run support, he still showed a significant difference from his stumble in the 2023 Wild Card.
In an increasingly younger rotation, Gausman’s role in the 2026 season is even more crucial. He’s not only one of the most reliable arms, but also a mentor to Trey Yesavage—a rookie preparing for his first full MLB season. The conversations between starters, preparation, and how to handle pressure are things that can’t be measured by WAR alone.
And then there’s the human element.
Gausman has come a long way: the 4th pick in the 2012 draft, a DFA (Double Fields Association) demotion, and a complete redefinition of his career. The only thing missing is a World Series ring. Entering the 2026 season—the final year of his contract—he’s not just throwing for statistics, but for the chance to close the circle.
For Toronto, replacing Kevin Gausman—both professionally and culturally—will be difficult. But that’s a question for the future. For now, it’s clear: in the context of an increasingly expensive and risky free agent market, signing Kevin Gausman has been, is, and likely will be Ross Atkins’ most successful free agency move.
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