Blue Jays' division rival 'assumed' as suitor for Chris Bassitt

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 06: Chris Bassitt #40 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches during the first inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on September 06, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

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By Jackson Roberts

Contributing Sports Writer

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The Toronto Blue Jays appear all but set to let Chris Bassitt walk in free agency, and even if that makes sense, it still has the potential to come back to haunt them.

Bassitt has been Mr. Consistent in Toronto for the last three seasons, making 95 starts, logging 541 1/3 innings, and posting a very respectable 3.89 ERA. But he was shifted to the bullpen while recovering from injury in the playoffs, and since the World Series ended, Toronto has added star righty Dylan Cease and Korean Baseball Organization Most Valuable Player Cody Ponce to the rotation.

The Blue Jays may feel as though they don't need Bassitt, but entering his age-37 season, the crafty veteran could be the missing piece for an American League East rival with every intention of challenging Toronto for this year's division title.

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 06: Chris Bassitt #40 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches during the first inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on September 06, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

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On Monday, MLB.com's free agency rumor tracker named the Baltimore Orioles as an obvious potential suitor for Bassitt, based on their relative lack of rotation depth and widespread reports that they've been in the market for other veteran free agents.

"It would make sense to assume that pitching-needy teams such as the Orioles and (New York) Mets could also be interested in these veteran hurlers," the site's uncredited author wrote, in reference to Bassitt and fellow free agent Lucas Giolito.

The Orioles bulldozed their way to a division title in 2023, then beat out the Blue Jays handily for a wild-card spot in 2024. But the bottom fell out when Baltimore got off to an inexplicable 16-34 start this past season, causing them to finish in last place despite a much stronger performance in the final two-thirds of the season.

Baltimore has already re-signed Zach Eflin and added former Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Shane Baz to its rotation, but the consistency of Bassitt might be what is needed to bring the O's back into the mix at the top of the East.