Gausman: Jays won't 'be together for much longer' if we don't play better

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Kevin Gausman offered a realistic and harsh take about his team's situation following Tuesday's 5-0 loss to the last-place Chicago White Sox.

"The reality is if we don't play well, this team will not be together for much longer," the pitcher said, according to the Toronto Sun's Rob Longley.

"It might make another year. It might make another year-and-a-half. It might take a couple of months. That's just the reality."

The Blue Jays (21-26) are performing below expectations through the first 47 games of the season. They made the playoffs in three out of the last four campaigns but presently sit last in a highly competitive AL East and are 3.5 games behind the Minnesota Twins for the last wild-card spot.

Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins recently admitted there is "a massive sense of urgency" to right the ship, and Gausman seems to agree, mentioning the Blue Jays have a lot of ground to make up because of the hole into which they've dug themselves.

"We really have to play our asses off," Gausman said. "It’s the reality of what we need to do. If you look at the big picture right now, there's not much to be happy about."

The Blue Jays have played baseball's toughest schedule, according to ESPN.

They have 17 games coming up in June against the Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees, Cleveland Guardians, and Milwaukee Brewers. Entering July with a losing record could force their front office to make some hard decisions ahead of the trade deadline.

Toronto has a number of players eligible for free agency at the end of this season, including Yusei Kikuchi, Danny Jansen, Justin Turner, Yimi García, Trevor Richards, and Kevin Kiermaier.

A rival executive recently said the Blue Jays have talked to teams about trading Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette, although the executive called the asking prices "ridiculous."