As the offseason heats up in the wake of a heartbreaking Game 7 World Series loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Toronto Blue Jays are quietly plotting a creative path back to veteran right-hander Chris Bassitt—not as a frontline starter, but as a versatile bullpen ace who could bridge their young arms and high-leverage moments. At 36 years old, Bassitt’s blend of durability, postseason pedigree, and clubhouse charisma makes him a prime candidate for a short-term reunion, insiders say, potentially reshaping Toronto’s pitching depth for another AL East run.
Bassitt’s 2025: Steady Starter, Postseason Savior
Bassitt’s final year under his three-year, $63 million contract was a testament to his reliability amid Toronto’s injury-riddled rotation. In 31 starts, he logged 170.1 innings with a 3.96 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, and 166 strikeouts—numbers that anchored the Jays during a 92-win campaign that fell just short of the commissioner’s trophy. Late-season back inflammation limited him to just a handful of regular-season outings after August, but Bassitt’s true magic emerged in October.
Transitioning to relief for the playoffs, he was electric: A 1.04 ERA over 8.2 innings across the ALCS and World Series, with 10 punchouts, two holds, and a microscopic 0.58 WHIP. Facing the Dodgers’ star-studded lineup in Games 6 and 7 at Rogers Centre, Bassitt silenced rallies, stranding runners and earning nods as the “unsung hero” from manager John Schneider.“He’s got that October gear,” Schneider said post-Game 7. “Stuff plays up, and his brain is always three steps ahead.”
Post-loss, Bassitt didn’t mince words about his future, fighting back tears in the clubhouse: “I hope I have another chance with this group, I really do. I love these guys—it’s hard to replicate true love.” Now a free agent since November 2, his market is buzzing, but Toronto holds the inside track.
The New Role: From Rotation Fixture to Bullpen Swiss Army Knife
With Kevin Gausman, Jose Berríos, trade deadline gem Shane Bieber, and rookie phenom Trey Yesavage locked into rotation spots, the Jays’ starting five is set—leaving Bassitt’s traditional role redundant. Enter the pivot: A multi-inning reliever, leveraging his eight-pitch arsenal (four-seamer up to 96 mph, cutter, slider, changeup, and more) for high-leverage spots and opener duties. Analysts like ESPN’s Jeff Passan project this as a natural evolution, citing Bassitt’s ground-ball tendencies (45% rate) and shutdown ability in tight games.
Blue Jays Nation’s Ryley Delaney floated the idea last week: If splashy aces like Framber Valdez or Dylan Cease prove too pricey, Bassitt as a “bullpen warrior” stabilizes the late innings while easing the load on youngsters like Bowden Francis and Eric Lauer.“He’s the right-hand man Schneider needs—experience without the wear,” Delaney wrote. Bassitt’s velocity dip (91.4 mph average in 2025 from 92.7 in ’24) tempers long-term starter projections, but it screams “elite swingman.” [
Contract forecasts vary: MLB insider Jon Heyman eyes a two-year, $40 million pact, while Passan pegs it at $34 million over one or two winters—affordable for a Jays team also chasing Bo Bichette and Max Scherzer. A one-year “prove-it” deal around $18 million could seal it, per FanGraphs models, especially if Bassitt waives his no-trade clause for flexibility.
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