Kevin Gausman has simple message in possible final Blue Jays start

If Saturday was indeed the last time that pitcher Kevin Gausman stepped on the mound in Toronto as a member of the Blue Jays, he wanted to make sure he didn't hide his feelings.

With his name surfacing in multiple trade rumors, the 35-year-old Gausman scattered nine hits over 5 2/3 innings against the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday. Over the course of five years in Toronto, Gausman's start on Saturday was his 148th for the franchise. However, he is a free agent at the end of the season and he and the Blue Jays are at a crossroads when it comes to his future.

Kevin Gausman's simple way of acknowledging potential trade from Toronto Blue Jays

Gausman's trade value is high, with the veteran entering Saturday ranking fifth among qualified American League pitchers this season in chase rate (34.0%), eighth in average exit velocity (88.5 mph), 11th in whiff rate (27.0%), 13th in hard-hit rate (38.9%) and 13th in walk rate (6.8%).

In his last start of July, against the Boston Red Sox on July 26, Gausman allowed three runs on five hits over 6.0 innings. That was his team-high 11th quality start of the season as well as his 80th as a Blue Jay, the eighth-most in franchise history.

Those numbers and his 14-year MLB career make Gausman an intriguing trade candidate, and that's one of the reasons why he took a moment to acknowledge Toronto's fans on Saturday as he exited the game.