One question surrounding the San Diego Padres entering the 2026 season is their pitching staff. Gone is Dylan Cease to the Toronto Blue Jays, but they brought back Michael King. It was once thought that the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, and Baltimore Orioles were King’s likely landing spot.
Instead, he surprised some by returning to the Padres. He gives them an arm they are familiar with. There are a lot of questions surrounding just what San Diego’s rotation is going to look like in a couple of weeks when spring training begins.
It feels like the top remaining arm, Framber Valdez of the Houston Astros, is going to be out of the Padres’ price range. Even if he comes down in terms of years and money, it feels like a very long shot at happening. One free agent pitcher whom San Diego could pursue is Blue Jays right-hander Chris Bassitt, and according to Jim Bowden of The Athletic, it would be a good fit for both.
San Diego Padres Listed as Best Fit for Chris Bassitt
It is somewhat surprising that Bassitt has yet to find a home in free agency. His 2025 regular season and postseason for the Blue Jays should have opened a lot of eyes for teams needing depth. According to Bowden, he’s the most intriguing remaining free agent starting pitcher.
“Bassitt is the most underrated starting pitcher left on the open market. He has made 30 or more starts in each of the past four seasons, throwing a minimum of 170 innings in each of them. He has also won at least 10 games each of the past six full seasons and kept his ERA under 4.00 every season except one since 2018. If I’m a contending team looking for back-end rotation depth, I’m jumping all over him,” Bowden wrote.
San Diego is not only looking for backend of the rotation depth, but also middle-of-the-rotation arms. Right now, some sort of rotation would include Nick Pivetta, King, Joe Musgrove, and Randy Vásquez. They have some young internal options, but Bassitt feels like someone who would fit this rotation perfectly.
San Diego Padres Could Use Chris Bassitt in 2026
Bassitt is someone who Bowden feels could help add length to a contender or be an asset for teams rebuilding. Where the Padres fit in among those groups remains to be seen.
“His best fits could be the Padres, Orioles, or Tigers. I also think he could help a rebuilding team such as the Athletics, Marlins, and Angels and give them an asset come the trade deadline,” added Bowden.
The Padres need another arm in the starting rotation before the season begins. A veteran one like Bassit would fit the bill. He is as durable in terms of starts and innings as there is remaining. Bassitt has made at least 30 starts in the last four seasons. He has also thrown at least 170 innings in all four seasons, as Bowden pointed out.
The Los Angeles Dodgers remain the class of the National League West, but after that, there are questions with each team. San Diego can be the second-best team with another starting pitcher addition. Bassitt is someone who could be the missing piece to the rotation in 2026.
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