Cubs Add Kevin Gausman, Clay Holmes and Tyrone Taylor With Debuts Planned in Kansas City

Overview

• The Cubs completed multiple trade-deadline deals on Monday that brought in four pitchers and outfielder Tyrone Taylor, with general manager Jed Hoyer calling targets like Kevin Gausman priorities.
• Clay Holmes, who has been recovering from a broken right leg and threw a 73-pitch rehab outing, is cleared to come off the 60-day injured list and is expected to make his first Cubs start this weekend in Kansas City.
• Kevin Gausman, acquired from Toronto, is slated to debut during the Royals series shortly after Holmes, and manager Craig Counsell has already adjusted the rotation by skipping Colin Rea’s next turn.
• Tyrone Taylor will serve as a left-handed platoon option to reduce Ian Happ’s exposure to left-handed pitching, and roster moves to fit the newcomers included optioning Kevin Alcántara to Triple-A Iowa and designating Jake Woodford for assignment.
• The front office framed the moves as targeted reinforcements for a roughly 50-game stretch; the Cubs expect the club’s top-ranked defense to amplify value from sinker/groundball pitchers and add late-inning flexibility from relievers like Ryan Zeferjahn.