The Toronto Blue Jays committed three years and $63 million to starting pitcher Chris Bassitt on Monday.
They needed help for their rotation and got it from a really reliable source: Bassitt finished with a 3.42 ERA in 181.2 innings with the New York Mets this past season, and has a 3.45 career ERA.
The signing doesn’t come without risk, though: Bassitt is 33, and will be 34 by the time next season starts.
His fastball velocity has ranged between 93 and 95 in recent seasons and there hasn’t been a significant drop-off yet.
More importantly, Bassitt has something that many starters lack: excellent command.
MLB analyst Eno Sarris explained how he is likely to age well, or at least well enough for the Blue Jays not to have any second-guesses about giving him a three-year deal.
Location Is The Key
“Chris Bassitt locates his hard stuff really well (top-ten Location+ on the four-seamer) has good stuff and locations on his breaking balls (surprisingly top curve Stuff+ last season despite low velo), and could easily throw more breaking balls. Decent recipe for aging, imo,” he said.
Chris Bassitt locates his hard stuff really well (top-ten Location+ on the four-seamer) has good stuff and locations on his breaking balls (surprisingly top curve Stuff+ last season despite low velo), and could easily throw more breaking balls. Decent recipe for aging, imo.
— Eno Sarris (@enosarris) December 12, 2022
In terms of fastball velocity, Bassitt’s is pretty average.
Thankfully, however, a starter can succeed while throwing in the 94 range if he has good breaking stuff and if he can locate well.
A 94-mph fastball in the middle of the plate will get hammered, but the same heater placed at the corners, or (occasionally) at the top with good sequencing (mixing in sliders, cutters, curveballs and changeups) will give a pitcher like Bassitt the right tools to dominate for a long time.
The Blue Jays don’t need Bassitt to be their ace: they have Alek Manoah and Kevin Gausman for that.
If he can replicate the stat line he posted in 2022 with the Mets for the next three years, he will be well worth the money for Toronto.
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