Chris Bassitt sign large deal with Toronto Blue Jays divisional rivals
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Victor William
Feb 11, 2026 (8:38 PM)
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Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Chris Bassitt is staying in the American League East, but he is trading his Toronto blue for the orange and black of our fiercest rival.
The news that the veteran right-hander has signed a one-year, $18.5 million contract with the Baltimore Orioles is a jagged pill to swallow.
Bassitt (Drafted 16th Round, 2011 by White Sox) was the definition of a workhorse during his tenure north of the border.
Last season, he battled his way to an 11-9 record with a 3.96 ERA, eating up 170.1 crucial innings for the Jays.
Seeing "The Hound" take his relentless competitive fire to Camden Yards feels like a personal betrayal, even if it's just business.
Right-hander Chris Bassitt and the Baltimore Orioles are in agreement on a one-year, $18.5 million contract, sources tell ESPN. Bassitt, 36, joins an overhauled O’s rotation that also added Shane Baz and re-signed Zach Eflin to join Kyle Bradish, Trevor Rogers and Dean Kremer.
He joins a Baltimore rotation that was already looking like a video game cheat code before this signing.
They have essentially built a super-rotation by adding him alongside Shane Baz, Zach Eflin, Kyle Bradish, and Trevor Rogers.
The Orioles are ruthlessly stacking arms to bury the division
This move isn't just about bolstering their own staff; it's about acquiring intimate knowledge of the Blue Jays' lineup.
Bassitt knows exactly how to attack Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and George Springer because he faced them in practice for years.
He is the master of calling his own game and manipulating the pitch clock to unsettle hitters.
Now, that psychological warfare will be weaponized against Toronto in critical divisional matchups.
It’s a terrifying thought: the guy who saved our bullpen countless times is now standing in the way of a division title.
Ross Atkins now has to watch one of his most reliable signings of the last decade try to shut down his offense.
We always knew Bassitt loved the challenge of the AL East, but we hoped he would take that intensity elsewhere.
Get ready for some incredibly spicy battles when he steps on the mound at Rogers Centre wearing the wrong uniform.
Also read on Toronto Baseball Insider :
Toronto Blue Jays sign former Nationals slugger to new deal
Toronto Blue Jays sign former Nationals slugger to new deal