Gausman 'sick of the talent talk' for underperforming Blue Jays
Kevin Gausman is tired of hearing that the Toronto Blue Jays should be a better team than they are.
"I'm sick of all the 'talent' talk," Gausman told the Toronto Sun's Rob Longley this weekend.
"We're so talented, this and that. We've got to start winning games. We've got to figure it out. We've got to do it quickly. I'm only getting older. (Fellow starter Chris) Bassitt is only getting older. If we want it to happen with this group, it has to happen soon. So what are we going to do?"
The Blue Jays have stumbled to the AL East basement with a 74-87 record this season after making the playoffs the last two years.
Toronto was also swept in the wild-card series in both short-lived playoff runs despite appearing like the stronger team on paper.
The 2024 Blue Jays rank in the bottom five in the American League in both runs scored and allowed. The bullpen, thought to be a strength coming into the season, ranks last with an inflated 4.87 ERA.
Gausman said bolstering the team's young core with "some veteran players" is necessary this offseason.
"We've got some young guys who can really play, but we need some veterans to kind of show 'em how to do things and be there because even our established guys are still young," he added.
Gausman labored through a down season like many of his teammates. He posted his highest ERA (3.83) since 2019 and recorded his fewest strikeouts (162) since 2021.
The 33-year-old righty still has two years remaining on the five-year, $110-million pact.