Blue Jays snag Bassitt on 3 year deal

*Photo from Amazin Avenue*

   They needed rotation help, and this was the perfect time to address it. The Toronto Blue Jays and RHP Chris Bassitt have agreed to a 3 year, $63 million deal, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. Toronto has confirmed the move.

   Last season was Bassitt's only year in a New York Mets uniform following a trade. Bassitt ended the  season with a 3.42 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and 3.66 FIP, making 30 starts and throwing 181 2/3 innings. He posted a 6.75 ERA in one playoff start, throwing 4 innings.

   The contract for Bassitt contains a limited no trade clause, which is 8 teams of Bassitt's choosing that he can block a trade to each year. The $21 million per year makes Bassitt the 3rd highest paid pitcher of the offseason, trailing Justin Verlander and Jacob deGrom. He declined the qualifying offer from the Mets, so the Blue Jays will lose $500,000 in international bonus pool money, plus their second highest draft pick in the 2023 draft.

   Bassitt provides the Blue Jays with a strong mid rotation presence as they sought rotation upgrades this offseason. The name of the game for the righty is weak contact, and his 93 mile an hour fastball profiles as his best pitch. He'll either slot into the 3rd or 4th rotation spot alongside Jose Berrios.

   Bassitt has 8 seasons in the bigs under his belt, split between the Mets and Oakland Athletics. In that time, he has a 1.20 WHIP, 3.45 ERA, and 3.81 FIP, throwing 737 1/3 innings over 123 starts and 13 appearances in relief. He has a 4.20 ERA and 1.47 WHIP over 3 playoff starts, totaling 15 innings pitched.

   So far this offseason, Bassitt joins Erik Swanson, Adam Macko, and Kevin Kiermaier as additions by the Blue Jays, while Raimel Tapia, Jackie Bradley Jr, Teoscar Hernandez, David Phelps, Sergio Romo, Bradley Zimmer, and Tayler Saucedo are gone.

   As things stand in the rotation, Bassitt slides in alongside Berrios, Kevin Gausman, and Alek Manoah, with Yusei Kikuchi and Mitch White in competition for the last spot. Hyun-Jin Ryu is also a late season option following Tommy John Surgery.