Chris Bassitt Paying Big Dividends To Toronto Blue Jays After Awful Debut

Based on the very small sample size of one start, Chris Bassitt looked like the worst free agent signing in Toronto Blue Jays’ history.

The right-hander made his Blue Jays’ debut on April 2 against the Cardinals in St. Louis and got hammered. The 34-year-old gave up nine runs on 10 hits – including four home runs – in 3 1/3 innings with no strikeouts.

A 24.30 ERA isn’t what the Blue Jays had in mind when they signed Bassitt to a three-year, $63-million contract over the winter.

What Toronto envisioned was Bassitt being an above-average starter in a potentially strong rotation that includes Alek Manoah, Kevin Gasuman, Jose Berrios and left-hander Yusei Kikuchi. The Blue Jays believe Bassitt could help push them to the next level after they were swept by the Seattle Mariners in the American League wild card round of the playoffs last October.

Bassitt has done a 180-degree turn since that game in St. Louis, though.

“I think we’re in a really good spot right now,” Bassitt said.

You might say so. Bassitt has reeled off six quality starts in seven outings since his rough debut.

Friday night marked his best effort yet as he threw the second shutout of his nine-year career when he checked the National League East-leading Braves on two hits in Atlanta.

Bassitt is now 5-2 with a 3.49 ERA through eight starts. He has a 1.08 WHIP and 41 strikeouts in 49 innings.

Bassitt has switched teams for the second year in a row. During the lockout-delayed spring training in 2022, the Oakland Athletics traded Bassitt to the New York Mets.

There is a nomadic component to professional sports. Yet Bassitt says going from one organization to another is not as easy as it might seem to those looking from the outside.

“There’s so many details behind the scenes that people don’t really understand, from the weight room to medical care in between starts,” Bassitt said. “We’re all learning each other. Nothing has changed, it’s just a matter of getting used to each other. I think we’ve done a really good job here. I’m beyond blessed to be a part of this team that has a core of guys who are super hungry.”

The Blue Jays are indeed hungry. The franchise hasn’t been to the World Series in 30 years when Toronto won its second of back-to-back titles in 1993.

With a star-studded roster led by first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., shortstop Bo Bichette and right fielder George Springer, the Blue Jays consider themselves legitimate title contenders.

“We have so much trust in our veteran guys to step up when we need them to step up,” Bassitt said. “They can go two weeks without getting a hit, and I don’t think there’s much thought about it. It’s just like, ‘OK, when is George going to carry us? When is (Brandon) Belt going to carry us? When are all of these guys going to carry us?’ Then you have Vladdy and Bo, who are young and doing what they do, trying to win MVPs. We have an unbelievable group.”

Bassitt has yet to pitch in a postseason game, which was a large part of the allure of signing with the Blue Jays.

Toronto is 23-16 and currently sits in the American League’s second wild-card position. The Blue Jays are six games behind the first-place Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East.

Bassitt will gladly take his chances with his new team.

“It’s a pretty awesome feeling to know you made the right decision to come here,” he said with a smile.