The Cubs Have Tried to Trade for Kevin Gausman Many Times Before – Will They Try Again?

With a look back at some history, and considering the context of the year, there’s something I want to put on your radar.

You know the story about this Cubs front office: having been unable for years to trade for one of those “cost-controlled young starting pitchers,” they sought about trying every other way to get useful, underpriced, comes-with-warts, basically-big-league-ready, reclamation pitching talent. Sometimes it proved to be an outrageously incredible move (Jake Arrieta), sometimes it didn’t (Eddie Butler), and sometimes it was kind of a mix or a TBD (Alec Mills, Tyler Chatwood). 

If you haven’t been able to develop your own guys that way internally, and if you know you can’t fill a rotation with pricey free agents, then you’re going to have to hit on some of these reclamation types. Since they come with the aforementioned warts and are being dealt away at a low price tag for a reason, your hit rate is always going to be very low. But I tend to think the Cubs have generally done pretty well (they’ve done this in the bullpen, too), in large part because they have long targeted specific guys about whom they already had specific tweaks/developments in mind. “If we just get this guy in OUR system, we know we can do X, Y, and Z.” 

One of these types who was long rumored in connection with the Cubs as he was falling out of favor with his original team was Kevin Gausman. A long-time Orioles top pitching prospect and then not-quite-over-the-hump starting pitcher, Gausman was a guy who popped up in rumors every now and again, and we speculated about a lot. Turns out we had the right idea, as Gausman’s new GM Scott Harris, and former Cubs assistant GM, told him over the offseason (The Athletic): “After I signed, I was on the phone with Scott and he told me, ‘Man, when I was with the Cubs, we literally tried to trade for you every year,’” Gausman said. “That’s awesome. You always want to be in a place where you’re valued and wanted.”

The Cubs “literally tried to trade for [Gausman] every year.” That sounds about right. 

The Cubs didn’t ever make it happen, though. When the Orioles finally decided to move on in mid-2018, it was the Braves who pounced and got a great half-season from him, with some control thereafter. But then he struggled out of the gate for the Braves through mid-2019, at which point it was the Reds who pounced and got a great half-season from him (out of the bullpen), with some control thereafter. But the Reds decided to pass on that final year of arbitration, non-tendered Gausman, and he wound up signing a one-year, $9 million deal with the Giants, who almost certainly looked at him as a flip candidate in a pre-pandemic world. That’s how he landed with Harris after he departed the Cubs this offseason. 

Wonder if the Cubs still really like Gausman?

Once again, Gausman, now 29, is probably looking mighty intriguing to a whole lotta teams out there with the Trade Deadline 10 days away. His 4.65 ERA through 6 appearance isn’t special (7% worse than league average by ERA-), but some of the peripherals are eye-popping: 31.6% K rate, 4.5% BB rate, 3.14 FIP (26% better than league average), 13.3% IFFB rate. His 66.7% left on base rate skews very unlucky. He is giving up a lot of hard contact and line drives at the moment, so that’s something to be considered.

But some of the video and data is neat:

https://twitter.com/PitchingNinja/status/1294796639396388865

As a pure rental who carries a not insubstantial salary in this environment, Gausman would not net the Giants much in trade. But he would certainly get them more than nothing (a lower-lower, lower-ceiling B-ish prospect?), and the opportunity to save even a million bucks in salary this year is going to appeal to a whole lot of clubs.

Of course, that brings out the question as it relates to the Cubs: even if they really, really wanted Gausman in the past, are they going to give up a solid prospect *AND* add to payroll during pandemic-ball? We’ve spoken at length about the risks of and hurdles to making trades this year. It’s a factor.

Then there’s the question of role. Gausman has been a starter for most of his career, and that’s likely where his highest and best value is to the market. You’d be paying the “starter” price tag to acquire him, and it isn’t immediately clear that he’s SO MUCH BETTER than the Cubs’ 4/5/6/7 options right now, which include Jose Quintana, Tyler Chatwood, Alec Mills, and Adbert Alzolay. 

Then again, we still don’t know a thing about how Quintana is going to look. We don’t know how bad Chatwood’s back issue is. We don’t know if Mills’ last outing was a fluke or if the first couple outings were. We don’t know if Alzolay is yet over that hump. 

And it’s not as if Gausman didn’t show with the Reds that he can be very good out of the bullpen, too. Worst case, you acquire him, and then he eats out of your bullpen on into the postseason. The Cubs would definitely be better served adding a lefty at this point, but I’m just saying – there’s some flexibility here. Plus, this is a Cubs team that clearly COULD go far in the postseason. Supplementing any question mark areas, even if imperfectly, is hardly a bad thing.

Oh, also? The relationship between Harris and the Cubs’ front office could conceivably make putting a deal together at a time like this – where you have to have enormous levels of trust and background knowledge on both sides – a little more likely than with other clubs.

For now, there are no rumors to report beyond the Cubs’ strong interest in the past, Gausman’s success this year, and his expiring contract on a team likely out of the race. The Trade Deadline is 10 days away.

If you want to get crazy coverage at the deadline PLUS make me eat a ridiculous number of ONLY hot dogs for two days straight, please support our fundraiser for Make-A-Wish here!

written by

Brett Taylor is the Lead Cubs Writer at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @BleacherNation and on LinkedIn here. Brett is also the founder of Bleacher Nation, which opened up shop in 2008 as an independent blog about the Chicago Cubs. Later growing to incorporate coverage of other Chicago sports, Bleacher Nation is now one of the largest regional sports blogs on the web.

more cubs news

Wrigley Field is Gonna Be Lit This Year (As in New Colored Lights!)

Last year, the Cubs started using their new LED outfield lights to do a little dancing display during 'Go Cubs Go,' lighting along with the song and throwing in a W. It was very fun and I liked it. This...

The 2024 Chicago Cubs for Dummies

Boom. We made it. The offseason is over, and the Cubs regular season - and those elevated expectations - begins tomorrow. But in case you slept through the winter, I'm here to catch you up on everything you need to...

Why Craig Counsell Wanted Miles Mastrobuoni on the Cubs’ Bench

I don't know why Miles Mastrobuoni bugs some folks, but it's probably heavily-weighted toward his small-sample, bad-batted-ball-luck start last year, and that time he didn't dive while playing in right field. It can be hard to shake initial impressions, I...

Kinda Sounds Like Craig Counsell May Have a Set Top Three in the Batting Order

New Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell has said, generally, his batting order philosophy is the very simplistic (and very correct): just get your best hitters the most at bats. Sure, there's some play in that to set up good match-ups,...

Los Angeles Dodgers Signing Will Smith to a TEN-YEAR Extension

The Los Angeles Dodgers have done it again. And by it, I mean they have signed a funkily-structured contract that is going to leave some folks annoyed. The Dodgers are extending catcher Will Smith on a DECADE-long deal with a...

The Stretch: 2024 MLB Season Preview

On Monday, during a team-building conversation with some of the Bleacher Nation and Betsperts Media Group folks, we discussed sports—shocking, I know—and Brian Twining asked the group what their favorite sport was. For me, it's baseball. There's no debate. I...

We Have to Talk About Some of the “Deals” the Cubs Sat Out in Free Agency

This week, in a conversation with Jon Greenberg at The Athletic, Cubs President Jed Hoyer made an honest and sober (but also moderately disappointing) admission about the 2024 Chicago Cubs: "We need to perform probably at or a little bit...

The Chicago Cubs Are Reportedly Now Worth Over $5 Billion

Given all the tumult in the baseball broadcasting world, and the uncertain future for that portion of revenues, you'd be forgiven for expecting that MLB franchise valuations would slow their recent surge. But, according to Sportico at least, you'd be...

Reds Second Baseman Matt McLain Had Shoulder Surgery

The injury to Matt McLain's shoulder issue obviously wound up being worse than he and the Cincinnati Reds had been hoping. The damage to his left (non-throwing) labrum ultimately required surgery: https://twitter.com/m_sheldon/status/1772993402604339478 When the hope is that a guy can...

Cubs Actually Getting a Whole Lot of Votes to Win the NL Central

ESPN dropped its big season preview, and included were a set of divisional predictions by way of their writers, editors, and analysts voting. There's nothing in the way of proof or certainty there, but with 26 voters, I do like...

Latest News

Celtics vs. Hawks Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats and Best Bets – Thursday, March 28, 2024

The Atlanta Hawks (33-39) are big, 17.5-point underdogs as they attempt to build on a three-game winning streak when they host the Boston Celtics (57-15) on Thursday, March 28, 2024 at State Farm Arena. The matchup airs at 7:30 PM...

Celtics vs. Hawks Predictions, Best Bets and Odds – Thursday, March 28, 2024

The Atlanta Hawks (33-39) are big, 17.5-point underdogs as they attempt to build on a three-game winning streak when they host the Boston Celtics (57-15) on Thursday, March 28, 2024 at State Farm Arena. The contest airs at 7:30 PM...

Bucks vs. Pelicans Predictions, Best Bets and Odds – Thursday, March 28, 2024

The New Orleans Pelicans (44-28) are only 2-point underdogs against the Milwaukee Bucks (46-26) at Smoothie King Center on Thursday, March 28, 2024. The game begins at 8:00 PM ET on NBA. The matchup's point total is 223.If you are...

How to Watch Indiana State Sycamores vs. Utah Utes: Live Stream or on TV

The Indiana State Sycamores (31-6) will attempt to build on a three-game winning streak when they host the Utah Utes (22-14) on April 2, 2024. The Utes have also won three games in a row.Indiana State won its most recent...

How to Watch Seton Hall Pirates vs. Georgia Bulldogs: Live Stream or on TV

The Seton Hall Pirates (23-12) will attempt to extend a three-game win streak when they host the Georgia Bulldogs (20-16) on April 2, 2024. The Bulldogs have also won three games in a row.In its previous game, Seton Hall beat...

Diamondbacks vs. Rockies: Free Live Stream, TV Channel, How to Watch

The Arizona Diamondbacks, led by Corbin Carroll, take on Nolan Jones and the Colorado Rockies in their first game of the season, at 10:10 PM ET on Thursday.If you're trying to watch this game, keep reading for streaming and TV...

Mariners vs. Red Sox: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

The Seattle Mariners, led by Julio Rodriguez, square off against Rafael Devers and the Boston Red Sox in their opening game of the season, at 10:10 PM ET on Thursday.If you're trying to watch this game, keep reading for streaming...

Guardians vs. Athletics: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

In their season opener on Thursday, Jose Ramirez and the Cleveland Guardians face Brent Rooker and the Oakland Athletics, with first pitch scheduled for 10:07 PM ET at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.The article below will give you everything you need to...

Senators vs. Blackhawks Prediction: Picks, Live Odds and Moneyline – Thursday, March 28, 2024

The bookmakers give the edge to the Ottawa Senators on home ice (-198) over the Chicago Blackhawks (+164) when they face off on Thursday, March 28 at 7:00 PM ET.Senators vs. Blackhawks Favorite, Moneyline, TotalFavorite: Senators (-198)Underdog: Blackhawks (+164)Total: 6.5Best...

Wrigley Field is Gonna Be Lit This Year (As in New Colored Lights!)

Last year, the Cubs started using their new LED outfield lights to do a little dancing display during 'Go Cubs Go,' lighting along with the song and throwing in a W. It was very fun and I liked it. This...

more cubs news