Bassitt was his usual reliable self as a starting pitcher last season, recording a 3.96 ERA and 166 strikeouts across 170 ⅓ innings pitched. He made at least 30 starts for the fourth straight year despite landing on the injured list at the end of September.
The 36-year-old returned from his injury as a reliever in the ALCS before becoming one of the Blue Jays’ most trusted weapons in the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He gave up just one run on three hits across 8 ⅔ innings out of the bullpen in the playoffs.
Bullpen Bassitt was a different beast. He threw his fastballs harder, simplified his repertoire, and attacked hitters more aggressively than he did during the regular season. He also handled pressure-packed situations with the cool demeanour of an 11-year veteran.
We are posting the best moments from each Blue Jays season since 1996! Today is 2023, when Chris Bassitt threw a complete game shutout against the Atlanta Braves!
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This mix of composure and savviness would be a serious boost to a Blue Jays’ bullpen that is not without its question marks in 2026. Having Bassitt as an option would give manager John Schneider an arm he could trust in any meaningful situation.
Bassitt, like Eric Lauer, would also provide valuable starting pitching depth in case of an injury. The Blue Jays’ rotation appears loaded on paper, but the adage about never having too much pitching always rings true over the course of a 162-game season.
There’s also something to be said for Bassitt’s leadership. He and fellow veteran Max Scherzer were two of the most important voices on the 2025 Blue Jays; losing both of them in one offseason could have unfortunate repercussions from a culture standpoint.