The Toronto Blue Jays and their players had quite an emotional rollercoaster heading into Monday’s MLB trade deadline.
According to Mitch Bannon of The Athletic, some players on the team were so devastated after learning of pitcher Kevin Gausman’s trade to the Chicago Cubs that they were reduced to tears while on the team plane.
“[Dalton]Varsho says he, Kevin Gausman and George Springer broke down crying on the #BlueJays team plane last night when Gausman was traded to Chicago,” Bannon shared on X.
The two-time All-Star Gausman was always vocal about how much he loved his time with the Blue Jays and the city of Toronto, making his departure from the franchise all the more painful. But he will have to finish the 2026 season with another team in another league, as he now looks to help the Cubs make a run in the second half with the goal of making the MLB postseason.
Interestingly enough, Varsho was also let go by Toronto in a trade on Monday, sending him to the Houston Astros for pitcher Spencer Arrighetti.
Additionally, Toronto traded reliever Jeff Hoffman to the Minnesota Twins for three prospects, namely Dasan Hill, John Klein and Damuery Pena.
Gausman, Varsho and Hoffman were all part of Toronto’s 2025 American League championship team, one that came so close to winning the World Series. But they won’t get the chance to finish that unfinished business together after being traded to different teams.
