Blue Jays fans hoping to see Kevin Gausman return to Toronto as a free agent might be in for a letdown.
The much-loved starting pitcher who helped lead the Jays to within inches of winning the World Series last year reportedly has put his house in the 6ix on the market months after being traded to the Chicago Cubs.
The 5,000-foot Lawrence Park mansion reportedly owned by the Gausmans has been listed with Harvey Kalles Real Estate for $6,885,000.
Located in Lytton Park — one of Toronto’s most affluent, upscale neighborhoods — the six-bedroom, seven bathroom mansion boasts many incredible features, including a full chef’s kitchen, elevator and a heated driveway.
According to the listing, the primary bedroom comes with a “spa-like, five-piece ensuite and an expansive walk-in closet.”
Despite listing the house at nearly $6.9 million, the Gausman could be taking a loss on the property. The family bought the mansion, which was built in 2019, for $7.65 million back in 2022, after the pitcher joined the Jays after signing a five-year, $110-million deal.
He pitched for four and a half seasons with the Jays, becoming a fan favourite not just for his strong play, but also by the way Gausman and his family embraced the city and Canadian culture.
Has Gausman been back to Toronto?
Gausman, who was dealt to the Chicago Cubs at the MLB trade deadline in August for a package including outfielder Brett Bateman, was spotted back in Toronto late last month with wife Taylor during a day off in the Cubs schedule.
Taylor posted several pictures from their brief getaway on her Instagram Stories, sharing an image of the CN Tower, herself and Kevin in an embrace and of their dinner at Akira Back.
The high-end Japanese-Korean eatery is located in Bisha Hotel on Blue Jays Way and is the namesake of the Michelin-starred chef.
It also had been speculated at the time that the couple also had used the trip to begin the process of selling their home, though it’s unclear how that process unfolded.
What has Gausman said about his future?
As Gausman enters free agency this off-season — with a potential MLB work stoppage looming as well — it’s unclear if, where and when the right-handed starter will continue his career.
In the Cubs locker room after his team was eliminated from the playoffs by the Padres earlier this month, Gausman was non-committal about his baseball future.
“Honestly, I don’t know,” Gausman told reporters. “I have to sit down and talk with my wife and figure that out. I’ve been doing this a pretty long time (14 seasons) and my kids are only getting older. We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.”
Gausman started in Game 2 of the best-of-three NL wild-card series, surrendering three runs on five hits with just one strikeout.
“Any time you get swept in the post-season, it’s not fun,” Gausman said. “It’s always going to leave a sour taste in your mouth. But you can’t forget how good this group was.
“It’s always tough leaving a group, saying bye to guys. Unfortunately, I’ve had a lot of heartbreak in this game. I really thought this team had a chance. I had a great time here. I really loved pitching at Wrigley (Field). It was a lot of fun.”
Have other Blue Jays sold houses in Toronto?
Earlier this year, George Springer reportedly sold his midtown Toronto mansion for $6 million after more than a month on the market.
The property had been on the market since late April and had been listed at $6.445 million — almost half a million higher than what it finally brought in when it sold in late May, according to real-estate site HouseSigma.
Springer reportedly bought the Lawrence Park South area home in January 2022, a year after signing with the Jays.
Mansion Global reported that Springer and his wife, Charlise, paid $6.43 million for the 5,300-square-foot, stone Georgian colonial-style house at the time.
The five-bedroom, six-bathroom house was built in 2005 and was “comprehensively renovated” in 2019, according to brokerage SAGE Real Estate.
It had previously been sold for $4.48 million in 2018.