Chris Bassitt Signs $63M Deal To Head Back To The American League

Chris Bassitt was the second-best starter left on the free agent market, and a team that needed to make a big move, finally made one. The Toronto Blue Jays have made their big splash, signing Bassitt to a 3-year deal. 

The Toronto #BlueJays fortify their rotation with signing of starter Chris Bassitt. He receives 3-year, $63 million contract per @JeffPassan

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 12, 2022

It's a 3-year, $63M deal for the former New York Met and Oakland Athletics ace. He also gets a partial no-trade clause, and can specify 8 teams per year to which he cannot be traded. 

Bassitt has been a top end of the rotation starter for several years now. He went 15-9 with a 3.42 ERA for the Mets in 2022, while holding down the fort when top two starters Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer were both out for a stretch. This comes off an All-Star season in Oakland in 2021 and a 2.29 ERA with the Athletics in 2020. 

Former Blue Jays starter and 3-time World Series champion Dave Stewart knows what it takes to be a winner in the big leagues, and he recently sung the praises of Bassitt:

Chris Bassitt is the best value on the market. Verlander and Rondon are in a different class, so don’t jump me yet. Durability, leadership, tenacity, great teammate, he shows up every fifth day and competes pitch for pitch with all the #1 starters in the league. @MLB wake up!

— Dave “Smoke” Stewart (@Dsmoke34) December 3, 2022

"Chris Bassitt is the best value on the market," said the 4-time 20-game winner.  "Durability, leadership, tenacity, great teammate, he shows up every fifth day and competes pitch for pitch with all the #1 starters in the league."

This marks four consecutive off-seasons the #BlueJays have spent at least $20 million per year on a multi-year free agent deal. Ryu, Springer, Gausman, Bassitt. As they should, being a large-market, win-now team.

— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) December 12, 2022

Bassitt joins an already top-notch rotation in Toronto with Alek Manoah, Kevin Gausman and Jose Berrios (if he can bounce back from a dreadful 2022). 

Photo: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports