Chris Bassitt just signed a one-year deal with the Baltimore Orioles.
Even though he's no longer sitting in the Toronto Blue Jays clubhouse, he's still not over the loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2025 World Series.
Chris Bassitt, who just signed a one-year deal with the Baltimore Orioles, spoke at his new locker on Saturday and said that the only way he'll get over the World Series loss is by winning one himself. While the Orioles don't seem to be as close to winning one as Toronto is, they are much improved after signing him and Pete Alonso this offseason. The O's also traded for Taylor Ward and Shane Baz.
About Bassitt
About to turn 37 years old, Bassitt is an 11-year veteran of the Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, New York Mets and Blue Jays. He's gone 83-65 for his career with a 3.64 ERA, and he's got five straight seasons of double-digit wins. He was an All-Star in 2021 with Oakland.
He spent three years in Toronto, going 37-31 with a 3.89 ERA. He led the American League in wins (16) in 2023 and he helped the Jays to playoffs in 2023 and 2025.
He spent the 2025 postseason in the bullpen, giving up just one earned run in 8.2 innings. He struck out 10.
No room in Toronto?
While Bassitt was well-liked (and a good performer) for the Jays, a reunion just never made much sense. Dylan Cease, Kevin Gausman, Cody Ponce, Shane Bieber and Trey Yesavage will make up the ideal rotation. Perhaps, if news about Bieber's delayed start to the season had come out earlier, there could have been a chance, but now it looks like Jose Berrios will just slide back into the rotation.
Other Jays news and notes
--Kazuma Okamoto, who was signed to a four-year deal worth $60 million this offseason, is in camp now. He'll play for Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic and manager John Schneider says he wants to get him to Grapefruit League action early. The Grapefruit League season begins next weekend.
--The injury to Bieber has created some shuffling on the pitching staff, and we are wondering if Yariel Rodriguez could end up finding his way back into the team's bullpen plans. Here's the situation facing him this spring. He will also leave for the WBC, representing Cuba.
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