After losing Game 7 of the World Series in a heartbreaking fashion, the Toronto Blue Jays have had a pretty eventful offseason. They most notably signed star starting pitcher Dylan Cease to a seven-year, $210 million contract in free agency. They also brought in multiple other new players, like Kazuma Okamoto, Tyler Rogers, Cody Ponce, and Chase Lee.
While the Blue Jays have added several new players this winter, they have also lost some players during it as well. Star infielder Bo Bichette is undoubtedly their most notable departure, as he was a big part of their roster for seven seasons before signing his new three-year contract with the New York Mets. The Blue Jays also lost a solid pitcher in Seranthony Dominguez, as he signed with the Chicago White Sox.
The Blue Jays could also very well officially lose more players from last season’s roster before the offseason is over. Veteran starting pitcher Chris Bassitt is one of their most notable free agents, and there is certainly a good chance that he will end up on a new team for the 2026 season.
Now, a new team is being linked to Bassitt with February being right around the corner.
Blue Jays Free Agent Chris Bassitt Linked to Guardians
In a recent article for Bleacher Report, Zachary D. Rymer named one dark-horse landing spot for each of baseball’s top remaining free agents. With Bassitt being among the best pitchers still unsigned, he was included on Rymer’s list.
When it came to Bassitt, Rymer named the Cleveland Guardians as a surprise potential landing spot for Bassitt.
“He’s perfect for a team that has a strong rotation up top, but which could use stability toward the back end. The Guardians match that description. The Gavin Williams-Tanner Bibee duo is solid, but Logan Allen and Slade Cecconi are average-ish types. The Guardians otherwise lack a solid option for the No. 5 spot,” Rymer wrote.
When looking at the Guardians’ current roster, it is clear that they could use an impactful veteran pitcher like Bassitt. He would give the bottom half of their rotation a bit of a boost, as he is still a solid pitcher at this stage of his career.
In 32 games this past season with the Blue Jays, Bassitt posted an 11-9 record, a 3.96 ERA, and 166 strikeouts. The one-time All-Star has also had an ERA under 4.00 in seven out of his last eight seasons, so he would undoubtedly give the Guardians a reliable pitcher if they landed him.
Bassitt Should Generate Interest From Multiple Teams
With Bassitt being one of the top pitchers left on the market and coming off a solid year, it is likely that multiple teams will try to sign him. Besides the Guardians, a few other teams that could make sense for the veteran starter include the Detroit Tigers, Athletics, San Diego Padres, and Baltimore Orioles.
Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see if the Guardians end up being the team that signs Bassitt. On paper, they look like a good fit.
Blue Jays All-Star Free Agent Linked To New Surprise Team