Getty
The Blue Jays pitcher is connected to four different teams.
It looks like fan-favorite pitcher Chris Bassitt won’t be with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2026.
Bassitt wrapped up his three-year, $63 million contract with the Blue Jays and played a significant role in their achievements. The right-hander contributed from the bullpen during the playoffs, serving as a crucial reliever for the team, particularly in the World Series.
Even though Bassitt is well-liked by teammates and fans alike, it seems his time in Toronto is coming to an end. Johnny Giunta from the Gate 14 podcast, who is also friends with Bassitt, shared that there are four teams interested in signing the veteran pitcher.
“He’s like, this is easily the latest I’ve ever not known where I’m going for spring training,” Giunta said on Gate 14. “Bassitt is essentially like, am I going to Arizona or Florida. I know the teams in the mix; I know it’s the Cubs, I know it’s the Padres, I know it’s the Orioles, and I know it’s the Yankees. I’m surprised he’s not signed yet.”
With interest from four teams, it seems likely that a contract will be finalized soon. All these teams are expected to compete for playoff spots and have needs in their rotation. So Bassitt has some tough choices ahead of him.
Bassitt finished with an 11-9 record and a 3.96 ERA over 32 games. In postseason play, he achieved a remarkable 1.04 ERA across seven games out of the bullpen.
Blue Jays Rivals Eyeing Bassitt
The fact that Bassitt hasn’t signed yet raises some eyebrows but he may be close to finalizing something.
This offseason, two rivals of the Blue Jays-the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles-have shown interest in him.
MLB insider Jon Heyman from The New York Post reported that after missing out on Framber Valdez, there could be a chance for Baltimore to acquire Bassitt.
“With Framber Valdez gone to the Tigers, Zac Gallen could top their list followed by Lucas Giolito, Chris Bassitt and others,” Heyman wrote.
The Orioles clearly need help in their rotation and Bassitt can provide them with reliable innings on the mound.
The Yankees also could use another starter as Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon are both injured at season’s start.
This indicates that after three solid years with Toronto, it looks like Bassitt will pitch elsewhere come 2026.
Questions Surrounding Blue Jays Rotation
The Blue Jays head into spring training with most of their starting rotation set up already.
Kevin Gausman and Dylan Cease are positioned as their top two starters while Shane Bieber, Trey Yesavage, and Cody Ponce should round out their lineup. They still have Jose Berrios and Eric Lauer available as options too.
Having extra starting pitchers is actually a good dilemma for Toronto according to reporter Mitch Bannon from The Athletic.
“Seven starters for five rotation slots is a great problem to have,” Bannon wrote. “Injuries during spring could easily resolve this issue. If Bieber needs to take things slow during spring training or isn’t ready for Opening Day then this group doesn’t look quite so crowded anymore.”
“That depth is part of why Fan Graphs projects Toronto’s staff to be seventh-most valuable in MLB entering spring training.” But this remains one of Toronto’s most interesting position groups; if injuries or performance don’t resolve any surplus then tough discussions or trade talks may come into play.”
The Blue Jays kick off their 2026 MLB season on March 27 at home against Oakland Athletics.
Cole Shelton covers NHL , MLB , and Cleveland Browns news for Heavy. com. He has been reporting on professional and college sports since 2016 , including features at BJ Penn , USA Today , SB Nation , Rotowire , Canadian Baseball Network , among others. More about Cole Shelton
