Chris Bassitt delivers emotional goodbye to Blue Jays fans after signing with the Orioles
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Victor William
Feb 12, 2026 (10:25)
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Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Chris Bassitt may be joining a heated division rival, but his parting words to Toronto prove his heart will always have a spot for Canada.
The veteran right-hander officially signed an $18.5 million deal with the Baltimore Orioles, ending his three-year tenure north of the border.
But before trading his blue jersey for orange, "The Hound" took to social media to deliver a gut-wrenching farewell message.
"Toronto and all of Canada… I’m beyond grateful that my family and I chose to come 3 years ago," Bassitt wrote.
He highlighted personal milestones, like having his youngest son in the city, and professional peaks, like the grind to the World Series.
"We gave you everything we had. Yall gave us so much more. Thank yall for literally everything," he concluded.
It is rare to see a player connect so deeply with a fan base in just three seasons.
Toronto and all of Canada… I’m beyond grateful that my family and I chose to come 3 years ago. From having our youngest son there to getting to a World Series and everything in between. It was filled with love and friendships that my family will cherish for the rest of our lives. We gave you everything we had. Yall gave us so much more. Thank yall for literally everything.
Bassitt (Signed as Free Agent, 2023) was the definition of reliability, posting an 11-9 record with a 3.96 ERA over 170 innings last year.
The connection went far beyond the numbers on the mound
He wasn't just a pitcher; he was a guy who understood what it meant to represent an entire nation.
Fans respected his bulldog mentality and his willingness to pitch out of the bullpen during the playoffs when the team needed him most.
Seeing him sign with the Orioles is a tactical nightmare for the Blue Jays, as he joins a rotation already stacked with talent.
But this message softens the blow, reminding us that the human element of baseball still exists.
When he steps onto the mound at Rogers Centre as a visitor, the ovation should be loud and genuine.
He gave us stability when we needed it and battled through every single start.
It hurts to lose him to Baltimore, but you can’t hate a guy who leaves with this much class.
Thank you, Chris, for being a warrior for this city; we will see you in the other dugout.
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