When it became clear the Toronto Blue Jays wouldn't re-sign Chris Bassitt last offseason, the veteran right-hander found refuge with a division rival.
The Baltimore Orioles, far more pitching-needy after signing Pete Alonso and trading for Taylor Ward and Shane Baz, looked ready to compete with the reigning AL pennant winners.
Neither team's 2026 season went as planned. Both Toronto and Baltimore ended up as primary sellers at the deadline, accepting their place as AL East fodder.
Bassitt has been out since early June with a back injury, authoring one of the worst seasons of his career, posting a 5.11 ERA across 61.2 innings this season.
Baltimore sits at 59-63, last in the AL East, coming off a 6-5 win over Tampa Bay, hardly the contender Bassitt signed up for.
Having made the World Series just last year with Toronto, Bassitt clearly knows what a winning clubhouse looks like, and it's fair to say he recognizes Baltimore isn't one right now.
Why his outspokenness may cost him a reunion
Bassitt is on a one-year deal and has been openly critical of his current teammates, effectively closing the door on any realistic 2027 reunion with Baltimore.
Given he already struggled to find a contract last winter, and has publicly voiced distaste for a looming salary cap, this kind of bridge-burning could complicate his market again once free agency arrives.
Still, he's a trusted voice around the league with over 1,300 career innings, and calling out an organization's failures carries real weight from someone with that track record.
Over three seasons in Toronto, Bassitt posted a 3.89 ERA and 4.13 FIP across 541.1 innings, and he thrived even in a bullpen role during the Blue Jays' postseason run, putting up a 1.04 ERA over 8.2 innings in October.
He's also been remarkably durable, making at least 30 starts every season since 2022 outside of this year, and completing at least 155 innings annually from 2021 through 2025.
It's a bit like an employee publicly venting about a company they already know they're leaving, the honesty carrying real weight even as it burns the bridge behind them.
Whatever comes next for Bassitt, don't expect him sticking around Baltimore beyond this season.
Would you want the Blue Jays to reconsider bringing back Chris Bassitt in the future?
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