On Monday, the Toronto Blue Jays found the frontline starting pitcher that they were looking for, signing veteran right-hander Chris Bassitt to a three-year contract worth $63 million.
Bassitt now joins a stacked rotation that features Kevin Gausman, Alek Manoah, and Jose Berrios.
The 34-year-old spent the 2022 season with the New York Mets.
In 30 starts, the veteran ace won 15 games and posted a 3.42 ERA.
Gausman is certainly excited to see Bassitt don his new Blue Jays threads.
On Twitter, the right-hander welcomed his new teammate to the squad, while also making a request for Bassitt to teach him all 10 of his pitches.
Heck yeah!! 💪🏻💪🏻 Welcome to the Six @C_Bass419 Now teach me all 10 pitches you throw!! 🇨🇦🇨🇦#OnePitchComForEachEar 🦻🏻🦻🏻
— Kevin Gausman (@KevinGausman) December 13, 2022
Gausman Welcomes His New Teammate
Bassitt responded to the tweet, saying that if the pitch clock, which will be introduced in 2023, ever gets low, he’ll resort to Gausman’s splitter.
Bassitt also expressed his excitement for joining the Blue Jays.
If the pitch clock gets low… I’m just gonna try and throw your splitter. Couldn’t be more excited and thankful for 2023. Time to get to work!!
— Chris Bassitt (@C_Bass419) December 13, 2022
And so, two ace pitchers will have the opportunity to share a clubhouse in 2023.
The veteran righty has spent the vast majority of his career with the Oakland Athletics.
He was traded over to the Mets prior to the start of the 2022 season.
Toronto’s rotation is now top tier.
Berrios endured some struggles this past season, but thanks to the emergence of Manoah, Toronto has a scary top four in their rotation that should help them compete with the New York Yankees for American League East supremacy.
Bassitt also struck out 167 batters and posted a WHIP of 1.14 in 181.2 innings of work during the regular season.
The right-hander drew the start for the Mets in the deciding game of the Wild Card Series against the San Diego Padres.
