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The days of Chris Bassitt taking the mound for the Toronto Blue Jays have come to an end.
The veteran starter is joining the Baltimore Orioles, having agreed to an $18.5-million US, one-year contract with the right-hander, according to a person familiar with the deal.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the agreement was pending a physical. The deal includes a $3 million signing bonus, and Bassitt can earn $500,000 in performance bonuses if he starts at least 27 games.
CBC News has confirmed that Bassitt is headed to Baltimore. ESPN was the first to report on the contract.
Bassitt, who turns 37 on Feb. 22, had pitched for the Blue Jays for the past three seasons. He went 11-9 with a 3.96 ERA for Toronto last year.
He’s made at least 27 starts and pitched at least 157 1/3 innings in each of the last five seasons.
Elite relief work during post-season
While Bassitt normally started games for the Blue Jays, he shifted to a relief role during the 2025 playoffs and thrived while doing so: In eight and two-thirds innings of work across seven post-season appearances, Bassitt gave up just three hits, two walks and a single run, while striking out 10.
He’s among a handful of notable, now-former Blue Jays players who fought in last year’s epic seven-game World Series battle against the the Los Angeles Dodgers, who also won’t be returning to Toronto for the upcoming season.
The hot-hitting Bo Bichette has left to play for the New York Mets, infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa signed with the Boston Red Sox and reliever Seranthony DomÃnguez inked a two-year deal with the Chicago White Sox.
The Blue Jays, meanwhile, have gone on an off-season spending spree to bring in some fresh faces, as the organization tries to make a repeat World Series appearance and get another shot at winning a championship title.