Tigers now looking to lure Toronto Blue Jays all-star pitcher to Detroit

Jan 25, 2026 (9:55 PM)

Photo credit: Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Chris Bassitt is being linked to the Detroit Tigers as the vital veteran stabilizer for a rotation that finally looks ready to dominate the AL Central.

The Detroit front office is officially moving past the "rebuilding" phase after their electric postseason push last October.

Scott Harris has already bolstered the back of the bullpen by landing Kenley Jansen and retaining Kyle Finnegan.

However the rotation still feels dangerously thin behind the reigning Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal who could be on his way out of town.

The Tigers need a professional "hound" who can eat 180 innings without breaking a sweat or missing a start.

Chris Bassitt is the definition of reliability in a league where pitching elbows are ticking time bombs.

The 36-year-old right-hander is coming off a 2025 campaign where he posted a solid 3.96 ERA across 31 starts.

He has logged 125 starts over the last four years which ranks him sixth among all big league pitchers.

Detroit learned the hard way last year that counting on "bullpen games" is a recipe for an exhausted roster.

While Jackson Jobe and Reese Olson represent the future they lack the veteran savvy that Bassitt brings.

His ability to manipulate eight different pitches keeps hitters off balance and minimizes the impact of Comerica Park.

The home crowd in Detroit is hungry for a rotation that does not require an opener every third day.

Bassitt would likely command a high AAV one-year deal which fits perfectly with the Tigers' current financial flexibility.

Everything currently hinges on the final numbers from Tarik Skubal's impending arbitration hearing this winter.

But the macro view is clear because Detroit cannot afford to waste a prime championship window by being cheap.

Bassitt's 1.41 WHIP might scare off some stat nerds but his 3.51 FIP suggests he was unlucky in Toronto.

The "Eye Test" shows a pitcher who knows how to navigate high-leverage situations when the young guys start to waver.

If the Tigers pull the trigger on this deal they instantly become the most complete team in the division.

Winning the Central requires more than just one ace it requires a rotation that refuses to beat itself.

Previously on Toronto Baseball Insider

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JANVIER 25\|329 ANSWERS Tigers now looking to lure Toronto Blue Jays all-star pitcher to Detroit Is Chris Bassitt the right veteran to lead the Tigers' young rotation?
Yes	212	64.4 %
No	117	35.6 %
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