A day after trading starting pitcher Kevin Gausman to the Chicago Cubs, the Toronto Blue Jays have already found his replacement.

On Monday morning, Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson Smith reported that the Blue Jays have sent prospects Arjun Nimmala, Eddie Micheletti Jr., and Angel Rivero to the Los Angeles Angels for José Soriano.

Leading into the deadline, it had been reported that the Blue Jays would take a buy and sell approach to this year’s deadline. By trading Kevin Gausman and the rest of their expiring deals, they get to replenish the farm heading into 2027. At the same time, acquiring Soriano allows them to be competitive not just for the rest of the season, but for 2027 and beyond.

Soriano, 27, is a right-handed pitcher who isn’t a free agent until after the 2029 season. This season with the Angels, he has a 3.29 ERA and 3.79 FIP in 123 innings of work, alongside a 24.9 K% and 11.2 BB%. He had a great start to his season, giving up just one run over his first 37.2 innings of work, including a start against the Blue Jays in late April.

The last two and a half months have been as kind to Soriano, as he has a 4.59 ERA and 4.29 FIP in his last 13 starts, or 68.2 innings of work. Still, he sits in the 90s with his fastball and there’s a very high ceiling for the 27-year-old. It’s a good move for the future.

As for what the Blue Jays gave up, Nimmala was drafted by the team with the 20th overall pick in 2023. He’s had a solid rebound season in 2026, slashing .265/.364/.453 with eight home runs in 264 plate appearances split between High-A and Double-A. He also had a month-long stint on the injured list.

Micheletti Jr., 24, was drafted in the eighth round of the 2024 draft and has spent his entire year in Double-A. The outfielder is batting .251/.347/.454 with 14 home runs in 401 plate appearances, with an 11.5 BB% and 17.5 K%. At every level the left-handed hitter has been in, he’s been able to hit.

Rivero was one of a handful of Blue Jays’ pitching prospects who broke out in 2026. The 19-year-old spent the season in the Florida Complex League, amassing a 2.36 ERA and 4.47 FIP in 42 innings of work, along with a 28.7 K% and 12.7 BB%.

It’s unlikely that the Blue Jays will make the postseason in 2026, but this will help them contend for years to come. With JoJo Parker on the way, Nimmala was able to be traded, and the Jays have a whole bunch of left-handed batting outfielders in the upper minors.