The Toronto Blue Jays upgraded their rotation on Monday after agreeing to sign Chris Bassitt to a three-year, $63 million deal.
A person with knowledge of the talks confirmed the decision to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the physical is pending.
Toronto is coming off its second playoff appearance in three years, but hasn’t won a post-season series since advancing to the ALCS in 2016.
Basit joined a rotation led by Alec Manoh and Kevin Gausman. The Blue Jays also have Jose Berrios and Yusei Kikuchi, with Hyun Jin Ryu expected to return sometime in 2023 after missing part of this season with an elbow injury.
The 33-year-old Bassitt became a free agent after declining his $19 million option with the Mets and joined teammates Jacob deGrom and Taijuan Walker in free agency.
Bassett finished 15–9 with a 3.43 ERA in 30 starts after the Mets acquired the right-hander in a trade with Oakland at the end of the lockout. He set career highs in wins, starts, innings pitched (181 2/3) and strikeouts (167).
He was selected by the Chicago White Sox in the 16th round of the 2011 amateur draft out of the University of Akron. He made his major league debut in 2014 and was traded to Oakland in December of that year.
Bassett came to prominence in his final three years with the A’s, going 27–11, 3.26 ERA in 66 games, 63 starts.
The Toledo, Ohio native is 46–34 with a 3.45 ERA in 136 games over eight seasons. He was selected for the All-Star Game in 2021.
