TORONTO – Kevin Gausman expected to hear from Ross Atkins once free agency opened last month. After all, the Toronto Blue Jays general manager had pursued the ace right-hander not just the previous winter, as has been widely reported, but the one before that, too. When a front office really likes a player, they tend to keep trying. “We almost reached a deal two years ago and even last year, too,” Gausman said during an introductory Zoom call Wednesday hours after his $110-million, five-year deal with the Blue Jays was finalized, and hours before an impending lockout of players. “It was kind of a matter of, I think they’re going to call again.” Atkins quite obviously did, saying he “couldn’t wait” to contact Gausman’s agent, Brodie Scofield, on the first day of free agency. Still, each courtship of the 30-year-old, who uses excellent fastball location and a stupefying splitter that’s one of the best pitches in the sport, became more challenging for the Blue Jays, as he progressed ...