Chris Bassitt

Right-hander Chris Bassitt and the Blue Jays are in agreement on a three-year, $63 million contract, sources familiar with the deal tell ESPN Jeff Passan.

The Blue Jays, sources said, continue to discuss trading from their plethora of catchers -- All-Star [Alejandro Kirk](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/42081/alejandro-kirk), veteran [Danny Jansen](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/35004/danny-jansen) and rookie [Gabriel Moreno](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/42464/gabriel-moreno) -- with teams still showing significant interest. [New York Mets](/mlb/team/_/name/nym/new-york-mets), where he threw a career-high 181⅔ innings and posted a 3.42 ERA. The Blue Jays, who finished in second place in the wildly competitive American League East division, got swept in the wild-card series by the [Seattle Mariners](/mlb/team/_/name/sea/seattle-mariners). Berrios' deal, for seven years and $131 million, kept him from reaching free agency this winter. Over eight major league seasons, Bassitt has a 46-34 record with a 3.45 ERA, along with 671 strikeouts and just 228 walks in 737⅓ innings pitched. [Kevin Kiermaier](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/31446/kevin-kiermaier), returns a potent offense that includes [Vladimir Guerrero Jr](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/35002/vladimir-guerrero-jr)., [Bo Bichette](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/38904/bo-bichette), [George Springer](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/32078/george-springer) and [Matt Chapman](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/33857/matt-chapman). Toronto, meanwhile, continues to focus on starting pitching, a tack that has had mixed results in recent years. The Blue Jays gave Hyun-Jin Ryu a four-year, $80 million deal before the 2020 season. The 6-foot-5, 220-pound Bassitt has made a career out of confusing hitters with a wide array of pitches: a fastball that sits at 93 mph but is located with pinpoint precision, along with a cutter, slider, curveball and changeup. 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. [Alek Manoah](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/42436/alek-manoah) and [Kevin Gausman](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/32667/kevin-gausman) as well as [Jose Berrios](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/32811/jose-berrios), who signed a nine-figure deal last year but struggled. [Jacob deGrom](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/32796/jacob-degrom) and [Justin Verlander](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/6341/justin-verlander).

The Toronto Blue Jays are in agreement with righty Chris Bassitt on a $63-million, three-year deal pending a physical, bolstering their rotation with one of ...

Since the Mets exceeded the Competitive Balance Tax threshold last season, they’ll receive a compensatory pick after the fourth round. ranked in the 95th percentile, nearly three m.p.h. His average exit-velocity allowed of 85.7 m.p.h.

TORONTO -- The Blue Jays have found their long-awaited entry point into the starting-pitching market, agreeing to a three-year, $63 million deal with ...

[Kevin Kiermaier](https://www.mlb.com/player/kevin-kiermaier-595281), who [agreed to a deal with the club over the weekend](https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/kevin-kiermaier-blue-jays-deal), this payroll is only rising. [Keegan Matheson](mailto:[email protected]) covers the Blue Jays for MLB.com. Last season, Ross Stripling stepped in admirably and saved this depth group, but the Blue Jays can’t bet on similar luck in 2023. If and when that time comes, having a rock-solid producer like Bassitt in the middle of the rotation will only look more valuable. 3 or 4 spot alongside Berríos, the Blue Jays not only have a talented top four, but a group capable of eating some serious innings. Consider this the Blue Jays’ heavy lifting in the rotation, but they shouldn’t be done. After the top names left the board, it was sensible for the Blue Jays to work towards locking down the middle of their rotation, which will trickle down to help their overall depth picture. But the Blue Jays didn’t necessarily need flash here. Getting Bassitt on a three-year deal instead of having to stretch to four or five -- even as he turns 34 -- makes this a particularly strong fit for Toronto. Bassitt, who will turn 34 early in Spring Training, is coming off a strong season with the Mets, in which he posted a 3.42 ERA with 167 strikeouts over 181 2/3 innings. In the simplest of terms, this is an arm the Blue Jays are betting on confidently. Over the past five seasons, he has pitched to a 3.29 ERA, maintaining consistent walk and strikeout rates across the board.

BREAKING: Right-hander Chris Bassitt and the Toronto Blue Jays are in agreement on a three-year, $63 million contract, pending physical, sources familiar ...

The Toronto Blue Jays strengthened their rotation on Monday, agreeing to a $63 million, three-year deal with Chris Bassitt. Bassitt joins a rotation fronted by Alek Manoah and Kevin Gausman. Toronto is coming off its second playoff appearance in three years, but it hasn't won a postseason series since it advanced to the 2016 AL Championship Series.

There's the big splash we've been waiting for. According to Jeff Passan, the Toronto Blue Jays and starting pitcher Chris Bassitt have agreed to a ...

All told, he posted a 3.44 ERA with the A’s over 100 appearances, 88 of which were starts. Story on Toronto making a big move and adding to its rotation, free at ESPN: According to Jeff Passan, the Toronto Blue Jays and starting pitcher Chris Bassitt have agreed to a three-year contract worth $63 million.

Free-agent right-hander Chris Bassitt is signing with three-year, $63 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays.

[Yusei Kikuchi](https://theathletic.com/mlb/player/yusei-kikuchi-1W4GePfKB8OMgQX4/) and [Mitch White](https://theathletic.com/mlb/player/mitch-white-HNgFujK1s2UPEZAZ/) each looking to rebound from shaky performances with the Blue Jays. [Kevin Kiermaier](https://theathletic.com/mlb/player/kevin-kiermaier-peFPmZld8zdDFWiV/) over the weekend — his deal is not yet official and pending a physical — but the club is still eyeing another outfielder with more offensive upside, who can help make up for the offense it lost by trading [Teoscar Hernández](https://theathletic.com/mlb/player/teoscar-hernandez-Mn2DuOO1XjTAVRxm/) to Seattle for reliever [Erik Swanson](https://theathletic.com/mlb/player/erik-swanson-ytaSFGpZhk1hNEcF/). Bassitt gives them a durable and experienced arm that slides in alongside [Alek Manoah](https://theathletic.com/mlb/player/alek-manoah-PEjqwVrINAts1qj9/), [Kevin Gausman](https://theathletic.com/mlb/player/kevin-gausman-jo54XXp99Uj8koMV/) and [José Berríos](https://theathletic.com/mlb/player/jose-berrios-hbSpaJ3Vf1UHJxG5/) to fortify a deep starting group. Between the two of them and [Nate Pearson](https://theathletic.com/mlb/player/nate-pearson-8n97KbVfDnXFueZZ/), the Blue Jays can probably creatively fill their fifth spot. The Blue Jays had been targeting a pitcher with a combination of upside and durability. The Blue Jays are confident Berríos can bounce back, as well. [Hyun Jin Ryu](https://theathletic.com/mlb/player/hyun-jin-ryu-sgJBQx7kZyDi2jXr/), who underwent Tommy John surgery in June and will miss at least the first half of the 2023 season if not more. Adding a pitcher of Bassitt’s caliber should in theory take some of the pressure off of Berríos, who struggled in 2022, his first full season in Toronto after signing a seven-year extension. [MLB](https://theathletic.com/mlb/)’s best starters, posting a 3.29 ERA in 594 innings. Stripling, a swingman, initially took over the rotation spot from He showed that his approach still works away from the pitcher-friendly dimensions in Oakland. His walk and strikeout rates are good, not great, but he limits damage by being hard to square up, allowing fewer than one homer per nine innings each of the past three seasons.

Les Blue Jays de Toronto se sont offert les services du droitier Chris Bassitt pour les trois prochaines saisons.

[Kevin Kiermaier](https://www.rds.ca/baseball/mlb/joueur/kevin-kiermaier?player_id=39402), longtemps un rival avec les Rays de Tampa Bay. [Jacob deGrom](https://www.rds.ca/baseball/mlb/joueur/jacob-degrom?player_id=48410) et [Justin Verlander](https://www.rds.ca/baseball/mlb/joueur/justin-verlander?player_id=1246). [Teoscar Hernandez](https://www.rds.ca/baseball/mlb/joueur/teoscar-hernandez?player_id=62989) aux Mariners de Seattle. [Alek Manoah](https://www.rds.ca/baseball/mlb/joueur/alek-manoah?player_id=374256) et [Kevin Gausman](https://www.rds.ca/baseball/mlb/joueur/kevin-gausman?player_id=1037), ainsi que [Jose Berrios](https://www.rds.ca/baseball/mlb/joueur/jose-berrios?player_id=83591), qui a connu des ennuis lors de sa première campagne d'un pacte de sept ans avec les Jays. [Chris Bassitt](https://www.rds.ca/baseball/mlb/joueur/chris-bassitt?player_id=56576) pour les trois prochaines saisons, ce dernier ayant paraphé une entente qui lui rapportera la somme de 63 M$, selon ce que rapporte ESPN lundi.

The Blue Jays have agreed to a three-year, $63 million contract with free-agent right-hander Chris Bassitt, a source told MLB.com's Mark Feinsand on Monday.

[Kevin Kiermaier](https://www.mlb.com/player/kevin-kiermaier-595281), who [agreed to a deal with the club over the weekend](https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/kevin-kiermaier-blue-jays-deal), this payroll is only rising. [Keegan Matheson](mailto:[email protected]) covers the Blue Jays for MLB.com. Last season, Ross Stripling stepped in admirably and saved this depth group, but the Blue Jays can’t bet on similar luck in 2023. If and when that time comes, having a rock-solid producer like Bassitt in the middle of the rotation will only look more valuable. 3 or 4 spot alongside Berríos, the Blue Jays not only have a talented top four, but a group capable of eating some serious innings. Consider this the Blue Jays’ heavy lifting in the rotation, but they shouldn’t be done. After the top names left the board, it was sensible for the Blue Jays to work towards locking down the middle of their rotation, which will trickle down to help their overall depth picture. But the Blue Jays didn’t necessarily need flash here. Getting Bassitt on a three-year deal instead of having to stretch to four or five -- even as he turns 34 -- makes this a particularly strong fit for Toronto. Bassitt, who will turn 34 early in Spring Training, is coming off a strong season with the Mets, in which he posted a 3.42 ERA with 167 strikeouts over 181 2/3 innings. In the simplest of terms, this is an arm the Blue Jays are betting on confidently. Over the past five seasons, he has pitched to a 3.29 ERA, maintaining consistent walk and strikeout rates across the board.

ESPN's Jeff Passan reported the deal to be worth $63 million US over three years. The 33-year-old is an imposing figure on the mound at six-foot-five and 220 ...

The Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to a deal with right-hander Chris Bassitt pending a physical, according to multiple media reports. ESPN's Jeff Passan reported the deal to be worth $63 million US over three years Blue Jays agree to deal with right-hander Chris Bassitt pending physical: reports

Le droitier de 1,96 m s'ajoute à une rotation constituée d'Alek Manoah, Kevin Gausman et José Berríos à Toronto alors qu'Hyun-Jin Ryu est blessé et Ross ...

Ils ont le feu vert de leur propriétaire pour offrir d'importants contrats. Bassitt, 34 ans, œuvrait avec les Mets de New York l'an dernier et avec les A's d'Oakland avant cela. Les Blue Jays de Toronto ont ajouté à leur rotation de lanceurs, lundi, en se mettant d'accord sur les termes d'un contrat de trois ans et 63 millions de dollars avec le lanceur droitier Chris Bassitt.

A Blue Jays front office that made bolstering its starting rotation the top priority has done just that.

The Bassitt signing likely will end up being the Jays biggest off-off-season business — barring a trade of one of their three big-league catchers — but it doesn’t mean that Atkins is done. No, it did not have to happen in the shadow of the Gaslamp Quarter. A Jays off-season under this front office can never truly be graded until the season starts, even if it looks like opportunities are being squandered. Sure, they weren’t going to go crazy and outbid the Mets on a two-year, $86.6-million deal for Justin Verlander — or do any shopping in that stratosphere. Perhaps even more notable, he also just completed a career-high 181.2 innings in 2022, adding another workhorse to a bullpen assisting starting group. Add in the prospect of a bounce back from Jose Berrios it could border on dominant.

Les Blue Jays de Toronto ont fait signer un contrat de trois ans, d'une valeur globale de 63M$ US au lanceur partant Chris Bassitt.

Si le tout se concrétise, Bassitt se joindra à une rotation pivotée par Alek Manoah et Kevin Gausman. Les Blue Jays comptent aussi sur José Berrios et Yusei Kikuchi, et Hyun Jin Ryu pourrait revenir pendant la saison 2023 après avoir raté la dernière portion de la saison à cause d’une blessure à une coude. Les Blue Jays de Toronto ont fait signer un contrat de trois ans, d’une valeur globale de 63M$ US au lanceur partant Chris Bassitt.

Verlander might have been the dream, but Bassitt is a solid consolation prize for a team with World Series aspirations.

The off-season of disappointment is no more, Atkins and the Jays are back in business. While Verlander might have been the dream scenario, Bassitt is a solid consolation prize for a team with World Series aspirations. That should make things easier on a bullpen that was overworked for much of last season because of the Jays’ inability to field five competent starters following injuries to Stripling and Hyun-Jin Ryu. Luxury taxpayers would have been forced to part with their second- and fifth-highest selections along with $1 million of the bonus pool. The cost to upgrade the rotation wasn’t cheap but it was a price worth paying. If the Jays keep their starters healthy for most of the season, they shouldn’t have any issues filling innings. According to FanGraphs’Roster Resource, the Jays currently have a competitive balance tax payroll of approximately $225 million and that doesn’t include the recent signing of Kevin Kiermaier. Alek Manoah and Kevin Gausman form what should be an effective top two while the Jays are hoping for a bounceback season from José Berríos after his disappointing 5.23 ERA in 2022. Bassitt has a better foundation with a 3.31 ERA over his last 546 innings while limiting opponents to a slash line of .228/.292/.367. Bassitt’s $21-million average annual salary is the third-highest for a free-agent starter this off-season behind Verlander and deGrom. A lot of players have been exceeding off-season projections, but Bassitt’s deal falls in line with what had been expected. The Jays have agreed to terms with free agent right-handed starter Chris Bassitt.

Les Blue Jays de Toronto ont fait signer un contrat de trois ans, d'une valeur globale de 63M$ US au lanceur partant Chris Bassitt.

Si le tout se concrétise, Bassitt se joindra à une rotation pivotée par Alek Manoah et Kevin Gausman. Les Blue Jays comptent aussi sur José Berrios et Yusei Kikuchi, et Hyun Jin Ryu pourrait revenir pendant la saison 2023 après avoir raté la dernière portion de la saison à cause d’une blessure à une coude. Les Blue Jays de Toronto ont fait signer un contrat de trois ans, d’une valeur globale de 63M$ US au lanceur partant Chris Bassitt.