Height
6'2"
Weight
205 lbs
Age
35
College
LSU
Draft
2012, Rd 1, #4
Experience
13 yrs
Bats/Throws
L/R
Fan Verdict
Grade this player:
Career StatsB+
| Year | Team | GP | ERA | W-L | K | WHIP | IP | SV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career |  | 364 | 3.795632 | 112-113 | 1975 | 1.2340094 | 0.0 | 0 |
Current Contract
Length
5 years
Total Value
$110.0M
Guaranteed
$66.0M
AAV
$22.0M/yr
Contract Value Index (CVI)
This Kevin Gausman deal earns an F CVI grade, representing a massive overpay for a 35-year-old starter locked into $22M annually through age 39. Despite his B+ performance grade and the record-breaking strikeout performances generating Opening Day buzz in Toronto, committing five years and $110M total to a longtime veteran entering his age-35 season defies basic aging curve logic for starting pitchers. Gausman is delivering exactly the ace-level production the Blue Jays needed — his All-MLB Second Team pedigree from 2021 and 2023 proves he can anchor a rotation — but the contract term extends well beyond any reasonable expectation for sustained elite performance. While the media and fans are rightfully celebrating his immediate franchise impact alongside Dylan Cease, the front office essentially bet $22M per year that Gausman can maintain top-tier effectiveness into his late thirties, a gamble that historically fails more often than it succeeds. The early-season dominance validates the talent evaluation, but the contract structure prioritizes short-term rotation stability over long-term payroll flexibility. Toronto will likely get solid value in years one and two, but the final seasons of this deal project as dead money that could hamstring future roster construction.
Fan & Media Sentiment
Kevin Gausman is riding a wave of exceptional public sentiment in Toronto, with media and fans celebrating his early-season dominance and viewing him as the ace the Blue Jays desperately needed. The overwhelmingly positive coverage stems from his record-breaking strikeout performances and immediate franchise impact, with observers praising how quickly he's established himself as a top-tier rotation anchor alongside Dylan Cease. At 13 years of experience and a $22M AAV contract, Gausman is delivering exactly the ace-level production that justifies both the investment and the Opening Day hype surrounding his arrival. The sentiment aligns perfectly with his elite on-field performance, creating a rare harmony between public perception and actual results that's driving genuine excitement about Toronto's rotation prospects. For the narrative to shift, Gausman would need either a significant injury or a prolonged stretch of ineffectiveness, but right now he's hitting every mark that defines franchise-caliber pitching. This A+ sentiment grade reflects a pitcher who has quickly become the face of Toronto's rotation and is living up to every bit of the considerable expectations placed on him.
Recent Games
| Date | OPP | Result | AB | H | R | HR | RBI | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, 4/7 | vs LAD | L 1-4 | - | - | - | 0 | - | - | - |
News & Buzz
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