The Toronto Blue Jays had been criticized for not making a big move so far in the offseason.
Their time came on Monday, though: they are signing veteran starter Chris Bassitt to a multi-year contract.
“BREAKING: Right-hander Chris Bassitt and the Toronto Blue Jays are in agreement on a three-year, $63 million contract, pending physical, sources familiar with the deal tell ESPN,” Jeff Passan tweeted.
BREAKING: Right-hander Chris Bassitt and the Toronto Blue Jays are in agreement on a three-year, $63 million contract, pending physical, sources familiar with the deal tell ESPN. Story on Toronto making a big move and adding to its rotation, free at ESPN: https://t.co/aoqDXD69gp
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 12, 2022
That way, Bassitt goes from one contender to another: he left the New York Mets and is now landing in Toronto to help them take the AL East crown or, at the very least, a spot in the playoffs.
The right-hander will be 34 by the time the 2023 season starts, but he proved in 2022 that he still has plenty left in the tank.
In 30 starts and 181.2 innings, he posted a rock-solid 3.42 ERA, a 3.66 Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) and 2.7 Wins Above Replacement (WAR).
A Solid, Steady Veteran For The Jays Rotation
He is good enough to slide in the middle of the Jays rotation, just behind Alek Manoah and Kevin Gausman and ahead of the struggling Jose Berrios.
The Jays still need an arm or two if they want to avoid using Yusei Kikuchi (5.19 ERA in 2022) as much as possible.
Despite losing out on several targets, there is still enough talent left for them to make an impact and enter the season with a team capable of challenging the New York Yankees, the Tampa Bay Rays, the Boston Red Sox, and even the Baltimore Orioles.
Bassitt is a steady veteran, one that can be counted on to finish with an ERA in the mid-3.00s as long as he is healthy.
It’s a good move by Toronto.
