Blue Jays Sign Chris Bassitt
The Mets picked Kodai Senga over Chris Bassitt. Was it because of that great idiot, Sal Licata? To be determined. What’s important is that Chris Bassitt needed a new home after the Mets filled up all of the vacant rotation spots with Senga, Jose Quintana, and Justin Verlander.
The Blue Jays are the winners here in free agency. Toronto and Bassitt have agreed to a free agent deal for three years at $63 million. A pretty good payday for the former A’s and Mets starter. A payday that maybe could have even been improved had Bassitt not been attached to the qualifying offer.
The news was first reported by Jeff Passan over at ESPN:
“Right-hander Chris Bassitt and the Toronto Blue Jays are in agreement on a three-year, $63 million contract pending a physical, sources familiar with the deal told ESPN, fortifying a deep rotation with one of the most consistent starters in the game over the last half-decade.
Bassitt, who will turn 34 in February, was among the most sought-after starters on the market and will receive the third highest per-year salary among free agent pitchers, behind Jacob deGrom and Justin Verlander. Bassitt has kept similar company in recent years, as his 3.29 ERA since 2018 ranks 11th in MLB among pitchers with at least 100 starts.”
To add on with a more side note tangent, Bassitt was one of the most vocal people to argue against the pitch clock. More so saying that he felt that the hitters were at the biggest disadvantage. Regardless, it will be interesting to see how Bassitt and all pitchers fare with the new rules.
