When the Toronto Blue Jays started their postseason journey last season, their reliable 11-year veteran right-handed starter was not on the roster held back due to a back injury. But by the time the Blue Jays made it to the World Series, Chris Bassitt was ready.
Though he had lost his spot on the starting rotation, despite a season when the 37-year-old recorded 11 wins against nine losses with a 3.96 ERA, Bassitt proved to be a crucial factor in getting the Blue Jays to within two outs of winning the Series in Game 7.
In six innings over five games, Bassitt allowed only one run on three hits while striking out seven and walking just two. Had the Jays been able to nail down the series, Bassitt would have gone down in Toronto history as one of the team’s true heroes.
Instead, Bassitt became a free agent after completing his three-year, $63 million contract. Even though Bassitt said that he hoped to return to the Jays, so far he has received little interest from Toronto or anywhere else.
Until now.
AL Central Power in Talks With Bassitt
According to a report by Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic published on Saturday, the Detroit Tigers — at about 240 miles away the closest geographical rival to the Blue Jays — have been “talking” to Bassitt.
Detroit, according to a report by Mark Polishuk of MLB Trade Rumors, “is the first team known to have interest” in Bassitt, a workhorse who is one of a small handful of pitchers who have made at least 30 starts in each of the last four seasons. Others include Toronto’s big-name free agent signing of the offseason, former San Diego Padres righty Dylan Cease, and Bassitt’s former teammate Kevin Gausman.
“Bassitt’s age also doesn’t help him, as he turns 37 in February,” wrote Polishuk. “Still, there isn’t much indication Bassitt is slowing down, as he has thrown 723 innings over the last four seasons with the Mets and Blue Jays with just two minimal stints on the injured list.”
Tigers Payroll May Prevent Bassitt Signing
The Tigers are currently projected to enter the 2026 season with a payroll of $171 million, according to FanGraphs, which would rank them 14th in MLB, and $111 million behind the Blue Jays.
For some perspective, 11 teams — more than one-third of all the teams in MLB — are projected to take payrolls of under $111 million for their entire teams into the 2026 season.
Detroit, winners of 87 games last year to get into the playoffs for the second straight season after a nine-year absence, currently carry only three contracts of more than $20 million per year, and just five of more than $10 million. But if back-to-back Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal wins his arbitration case, his $22.5 million salary jumps to $32 million.
MLB Trade Rumors projected Bassitt’s next contract to be for $38 million over two seasons, while Spotrac set his value at $31.1 million over two.
If Skubal wins his arbitration award, Detroit may be off the table for Bassitt, opening the door for a possible return to Toronto.
Blue Jays $63 Million World Series Hero Tabbed to Betray Toronto For AL Club