Bounce Back Candidate: Kevin Gausman
After a 2023 season in which Toronto Blue Jays ace Kevin Gausman placed third in Cy Young Award voting, 2024 was a season to forget for Gausman.
However in 2024 Gausman went 14-11 for the Blue Jays, who finished last in the American League East.
He posted a 3.83 ERA. The numbers were respectable, but they were a far cry from his All-Star 2023 season in which Gausman had a 3.16 ERA over 185 innings and an AL-best 237 strikeouts, he went on to place third in 2023 Cy Young Award voting.
To say 33-year old had an underwhelming 2024 is an understatement to say the least.
When he signed his five-year, $110 million US deal to become a cornerstone of the Toronto Blue Jays starting rotation back in December of 2021, he didn't anticipate this.
He didn't sign up to be on a team that was out of playoff contention in mid-summer and in massive sell-off mode at the July 31 Major League Baseball trade deadline.
There were many reasons he settled on Toronto, a city and fan base he's embraced and a franchise he truly believed was promptly destined for bigger things.
As the season slipped away, seeing players like catcher Danny Jansen traded and before that reliever Tim Mayza released added to the angst.
What had been a close clubhouse just 12 months earlier was suddenly fragmented.
Like many of those who follow the team, Gausman will wait to see what general manager Ross Atkins and his baseball operations brigade can do in this critical off season.
So far Ross Atkins has brought back Yimi Garcia on a two year deal, and signed LHP Josh Walker to a one year deal.
Definitely an underwhelming off season from Atkins and Co so far.
So with all that being said can Kevin Gausman bounce back in 2025?
The oddsmakers think Gausman is a good bounce back candidate in 2025.
According to Fanduel Sportsbook, Gausman is listed as +2500, meaning that if you bet $100 on Gausman to win the award, you'd profit $2500 if he actually does.
Being given odds is a sign that bookmakers think he's a realistic choice, and that is a great building block for the Jays.
Gausman is a driven veteran determined to be a winner before age catches up with his best years.
A 12-year veteran, Gausman is a two-time All-Star. The former LSU Tiger has pitched for the Baltimore Orioles, Blue Jays, Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants and Cincinnati Reds.
SOURCE: The Toronto Sun
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