While current Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Dylan Cease fell just short of winning the MLB Players Choice Award for the American League's Best Pitcher, former Jays pitcher Chris Bassitt did take home an honor. He was named as the Marvin Miller Man of the Year for his commitment to his fellow players.

Bassitt, a well-respected veteran in the game, has served in the MLB Players Association and is likely to be a critical voice in the looming labor battle over a salary cap and a salary floor, which is coming as soon as the current Collective Bargaining Agreement expires on Dec. 1.

Bassitt even said in the video that he knows tough times are coming, but that the MLBPA will get through it together. Other veteran players, including Marcus Semien and Gerrit Cole, were featured in the video and sung his praises. Semien said that Bassitt has been important in relaying players' rights and making players realize what their labor is worth.

Now 37 years old, Bassitt is a 12-year veteran of the Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, New York Mets, Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles. He's gone 92-70 for his career, earning an All-Star appearance in 2021. He has a career 3.71 ERA and has six seasons of double-digit wins.

He spent three years with the Blue Jays from 2023-25, going 37-31 with a 3.89 ERA. He won an American League-best 16 games in 2023 as the Blue Jays got to the playoffs.

Actually, Toronto made the playoffs in two of his three years, and he pitched out of the bullpen during the 2025 World Series run. He made 31 starts or more in each of his three years.

He signed with the Orioles before the 2026 season, but wasn't as durable. He made only 18 starts, going 9-5 with a 4.59 ERA. 

He'll be a free agent again after the season concludes.

The Milwaukee Brewers currently hold a 3-1 series lead over the Tampa Bay Rays in the World Series. Game 5 is set for Wednesday night and if the Brewers win, the season is over.

Once that happens, the 2027 league year will be on the verge of starting. Free agents will officially exit the 40-man roster. The Blue Jays will have five days to exclusively negotiate with their own free agents and then true free agency will begin at that point.