Cubs Trade Jameson Taillon To The Blue Jays

The Chicago Cubs have found a trade partner for starting pitcher Jameson Taillon. 

The Cubs designated Taillon for assignment on July 27 amid a rough 2026 season. Just a few days later, the North Siders have traded him to the Toronto Blue Jays for a player to be named later or cash considerations. 

Full Trade Details:

Cubs Receive: Player To Be Named Later or cash 

Blue Jays Receive: Jameson Taillon, cash 

The Cubs let go of Taillon earlier this week after struggling in his first two starts back from the injured list. He allowed four runs across 4 ⅓ innings against the Tigers on July 20 and gave up seven runs across four innings against the Pirates on July 26. 

It has been a career-worst year for Taillon on the mound. He has a 5.92 ERA, 1.355 WHIP, and 68 strikeouts across 76 innings pitched. The home run ball has been a big issue for the veteran right-hander this year, as his 25 home runs are tied for the second-most in baseball. 

Taillon will now get a fresh start in Toronto, where he should join the Blue Jays' rotation. With Kevin Gausman expected to be dealt at Monday’s trade deadline, Taillon should take his spot in the rotation when that trade eventually happens. 

It’s not totally surprising to see a team in the playoff hunt take a chance on Taillon. If Toronto does move Gausman in the next 24 hours, the team has a rotation replacement for him right away. While the Blue Jays are trending toward selling at the deadline, they are still only 3 ½ games back of a Wild Card spot. 

Taillon has been a reliable starting pitcher in the past. The 34-year-old posted a 3.27 ERA and a 1.131 WHIP across 28 starts during the 2024 season and finished with a 3.68 ERA and a 1.057 WHIP in 23 starts last year. The Blue Jays are hoping he can return to that form down the stretch.

Taillon was a class act in his time with the Cubs. He had a 4.21 ERA and 431 strikeouts across 525 ⅓ innings in his four years in the Windy City. He was a consistent backend rotation arm in both 2024 and 2025 and stepped up big in last year’s postseason. The veteran threw four shutout innings with four strikeouts in a pivotal win-or-go-home Game 3 against the San Diego Padres in the Wild Card Series. 

Although Taillon is in the midst of a rough season, the Cubs were able to get something for him in return.