It appears that pitcher Chris Bassitt will not be rejoining the Toronto Blue Jays.
Multiple reports suggest that the free agent right-hander has agreed to a one-year contract with the Baltimore Orioles. It is believed that his salary will be $18.5 million US.
The Orioles would be Bassitt’s fifth major-league team.
Bassitt would join a Baltimore starting rotation which also includes holdovers Trevor Rogers, a left-hander, and Zach Eflin, a right-hander. The Orioles also added former Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Shane Baz in an off-season trade.
Bassitt, who will turn 37 on Feb. 22, began his major-league career in 2014 with the Chicago White Sox, who had drafted him in 2011. He had his most big-league success as a member of the Athletics from 2015 to 2021, including a 12-4 season in 2021.
Bassitt was traded to the New York Mets before the start of the 2022 season, and went 15-9 for the Mets.
The Blue Jays signed Bassitt as a free agent on Dec. 16, 2022 to a three-year deal worth $63 million.
During his three seasons with the Blue Jays, he had a 37-31 record with a 3.89 ERA. He was a durable starting pitcher, landing on the disabled list only once in those three seasons, which was due to low back inflammation in September 2025.
In the Blue Jays’ 2025 playoff run, Bassitt was used exclusively as a relief pitcher, allowing only one run in 8.2 innings over seven appearances.
Bassitt also played a part in the Blue Jays brining in veteran pitcher Max Scherzer for the 2025 season.
“Luckily for me, he’s one of my best friends,” Bassitt said last year of Scherzer, who was his teammate with the New York Mets in 2022.