Blue Jays Ex-Information: How deadline departures are faring in stretch run

When the Toronto Blue Jays took a hybrid strategy on the Aug. 3 commerce deadline, their post-season odds had been slim.

The Blue Jays traded important gamers with expiring contracts and a prime prospect for controllable items that would contribute each now and sooner or later. In the brief time period, it is labored, as Brett Bateman, Josh Smith, José Soriano and Spencer Arrighetti have mixed for extra fWAR (1.9) than Kevin Gausman, Daulton Varsho, Jeff Hoffman and Adam Macko (1.2), and the Blue Jays’ FanGraphs playoff odds have jumped from 5.8 per cent to 32 per cent, due to a 20-14 run.

Of course, the gamers who departed the Blue Jays joined groups that had been additionally eyeing an October push. The longest-tenured and most significant outbound star, Gausman, is now backed by a Chicago Cubs offence that has been the most effective in baseball because the deadline.

The right-handed splitter artist is off to an uneven begin in Wrigleyville. He did appear to be discovering his type, however then was shelled for six earned runs in his first couple of innings towards the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday. The Blue Jays and their different outbound gamers have equally struggled these days as they concurrently attempt to discover their footing within the playoff race.

Breakups are unhappy, however generally vital to maneuver on to higher issues, and there is nothing higher than significant September baseball. Let’s examine in on how Toronto’s “exes” are faring with their new golf equipment in the course of the stretch run.

Kevin Gausman, Chicago Cubs
Since the commerce: 7 begins, 5.31 ERA, 39 innings, 44 strikeouts, 10 walks

Gausman’s begin on Wednesday night time was his shortest since becoming a member of the Cubs, and got here simply as he had began to make a case as an necessary member of their post-season rotation. He lasted solely 4 innings and was rocked for 3 residence runs within the first 12 batters.

The former Blue Jays ace allowed 11 runs over his first three begins with Chicago (6.19 ERA), however indicators instructed his outcomes would return to regular. Over this stretch, he gave up a number of soft-contact hits; his opponents’ slugging share on balls in play exceeded what was anticipated, primarily based on their exit velocity and launch angle; and he struck out 16 batters and walked simply 4.

It was unsurprising when his subsequent three begins trended positively. Gausman gave up simply six runs over his subsequent 19 innings (2.84 ERA), struck out 22 and walked 4, highlighted by seven shutout frames in a win over the Arizona Diamondbacks, who’re instantly trailing the Cubs within the National League wild-card race.

But it has been two steps ahead and one step again. No fan base is extra accustomed to Gausman’s work than Toronto’s; they know he hasn’t had his finest stuff this season. His fastball velocity, whiff fee and strikeouts are all down and, in consequence, his 4.60 ERA is his worst since a disastrous 2019 season, when he needed to remake himself.

At instances, Gausman has overcome his diminished stuff with command and guile, however he was at his finest when he was overpowering hitters along with his high-90s fastball and devastating splitter. Those weapons aren’t what they as soon as had been, making Gausman’s margin for error razor-thin.

Daulton Varsho, Houston Astros
Since the commerce: 32 GP, 4 HR, 13 RBI, .193/.256/.345, 69 wRC+

Varsho had a fame for extraordinary defence and mashing the odd residence run with the Blue Jays, and has roughly met these expectations with the Astros.

His outcomes on the plate have been poor — far worse than his profession numbers. But Varsho has been a below-league-average hitter all through his profession (.227 common, .295 OBP, 97 wRC+), and he is clubbed 4 residence runs in 125 plate appearances with the Astros, roughly a 20-homer tempo over a full season that is proper according to his normal manufacturing.

It’s a far cry from the 46-home-run tempo Varsho had throughout his transcendent but injury-marred 2025 marketing campaign (20 residence runs in 71 video games). Still, Varsho’s profile as an elite defensive centre fielder who can run into one each occasionally has been good for a median of 4 wins per season all through his profession.

For that to carry up, Varsho wants to keep up the elite defence that earned him a gold glove and extra fielding run worth (plus-49) and defensive runs saved (85) than every other outfielder from 2022-25, and he hasn’t this season.

His robust jumps on fly balls have helped preserve his vary, however his dash pace has declined to league common, and he additionally had a few uncharacteristic drops earlier within the season with the Jays. That’s certain to come back round to a point, and it already has with the Astros. But it is all amounted to a pedestrian plus-four fielding run worth and minus-one defensive runs saved, limiting Varsho’s worth.

Jeff Hoffman, Minnesota Twins
Since the commerce: 13 appearances, 3.00 ERA, 6 holds, 12 innings, 17 strikeouts, 7 walks

Of all Toronto’s departures, Hoffman has carried out the most effective since being shipped out. Also, in contrast to Gausman and Varsho, he has yet one more yr of management remaining on his contract in 2027.

But regardless of his simple expertise and bizarrely unhealthy luck (or maybe due to it), Hoffman turned a change-of-scenery candidate. His 25 per cent strikeout minus stroll fee is a top-10 mark amongst certified relievers, and his .376 BABIP is first.

It seems the grass actually is greener in Minnesota, as Hoffman’s BABIP has dropped to a still-high however extra regular .321 and never a single fly ball he is allowed has left the yard. He’s settled in properly to a setup position behind Twins nearer Yoendrys Gomez, regardless of hanging out fewer batters and strolling greater than he did with the Blue Jays.

He’s nonetheless had a few small blow-ups, permitting just a few runs to attain to interrupt ties with the Brewers and San Diego Padres, however in any other case it has been clean crusing.

Adam Macko, Texas Rangers
Since the commerce: 6 appearances, 5.68 ERA, 6.1 innings, 7 strikeouts, 2 walks

Macko made solely 22 appearances with the Blue Jays this season, however was nonetheless a fan favorite due to his Canadian roots.

Acquired together with Erik Swanson from the Seattle Mariners for Teoscar Hernandez simply after the 2022 season, Macko’s rise by the Blue Jays’ minor-league system was monitored carefully in Canadian baseball circles that had been monitoring his progress since he was a standout on the Vauxhall Academy of Baseball in Alberta.

The 25-year-old Slovakian-Canadian was known as up on May 15, acquired off to a robust begin with the Blue Jays, and finally acquired one other shot post-trade when the Rangers recalled him on Aug. 28. The left-hander hasn’t carried out as nicely in his transient time within the Lone Star State, however nonetheless has loads of potential to develop right into a helpful arm sooner or later.

Arjun Nimmala, Los Angeles Angels
Since the commerce: 24 GP, 5 HR, 12 RBI, .231/.375/.462, 128 wRC+

Nimmala was probably the most stunning participant dealt by the Blue Jays on deadline day, as transferring their No. 2-ranked prospect per MLB Pipeline signalled that Toronto wasn’t strictly promoting regardless of its slim probability of creating the post-season.

Nimmala has picked proper up with the Angels’ double-A affiliate, the Rocket City Trash Pandas, since he was traded with fellow minor-leaguers Eddie Micheletti Jr. and Angel Rivero, for Soriano. It’s an aptly named vacation spot contemplating the best way the 20-year-old shortstop has been blasting off on the plate.

He scalded two doubles and walked twice in his second sport with the Madison, Ala.-based membership and has solely continued to warmth up. Nimmala has 4 residence runs in his final eight video games, together with an inside-the-parker.

The Blue Jays have not usually been burned by buying and selling extremely touted prospects, with Simeon Woods Richardson, Austin Martin, Gunnar Hoglund and Jordan Groshans failing to pan out to date. But allowing for Nimmala’s excellent efficiency and his No. 38 rating in MLB Pipeline‘s prime 100, he has a great probability of creating into an impactful massive leaguer.