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Chris Bassitt worked exclusively out of the bullpen during Toronto’s World Series run.
With spring training approaching and rotation depth still a question, the Philadelphia Phillies are now being linked to veteran free-agent starter Chris Bassitt, who remains unsigned late in the offseason.
Bassitt, who spent the last two seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays, played a key role not only in the rotation but also out of the bullpen during the postseason, adding to his appeal as a flexible, battle-tested arm with World Series experience.
Speaking on the January 31 edition of the Locked on Phillies podcast, host Connor Thomas noted that Bassitt was “one of the free agents I liked at the very start of the offseason,” citing his ability to move seamlessly between roles and his reputation for veteran know-how. Pushing 37 years old, Bassitt is certainly not a long-term investment, but his track record of getting major league hitters out — with a career opponents’ OPS of .696 over his 11 seasons — continues to make him an intriguing short-term solution.
Bassitt Expected to Be an Economical Addition
Though the Blue Jays may be waiting out Bassitt’s free agency in hopes of bringing him back on a low-cost, short-term deal, the price tag for signing Bassitt could actually work in Philadelphia president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski’s favor if he plans to steal the 11-year veteran away from Toronto.
After Bassitt earned $63 million on his now-ended, three-year Blue Jays contract, the 36-year-old — who will turn 37 shortly after spring training opens — is widely expected to take a significant pay cut.
With the calendar now flipped to February, Bassitt remains unsigned. That market reality has fueled speculation that the Phillies could step in, with Thomas calling Bassitt “a really sound investment” and adding, “I’ve been on that idea for a while, and I’d like to be right about it.”
Phillies Rotation a Question Mark
The Phillies’ rotation has taken on a more precarious look this winter, making the addition of a veteran like Bassitt a logical move.
Opening-day ace Zack Wheeler is still recovering from thoracic outlet syndrome surgery and expected to miss significant time, leaving Philadelphia thin at the top of the staff. The uncertainty surrounding Wheeler’s health — combined with a rotation that already lacked depth — has elevated the stakes on the free-agent market, where premium arms have been both scarce and expensive.
The Phillies can feel comfortable with Cristopher Sánchez and Jesús Luzardo, but beyond those two and until Wheeler — the Phillies’ highest-paid player on an annual basis at $42 million — returns, Philadelphia’s rotation looks iffy to say the least.
Ex-Blue Jays Pitcher Called ‘Sound Investment’
The Phillies watched another key piece of their pitching puzzle walk in free agency, as 2024 All-Star lefty Ranger Suárez agreed to a free-agent contract with the Boston Red Sox, further thinning a rotation that needs both stability and innings. With Wheeler’s timetable unclear and Suárez now in the American League East, Philadelphia’s rotation would benefit from a proven arm capable of handling multiple roles.
That’s where Bassitt’s versatility — praised by Thomas — becomes a compelling part of the conversation. Thomas emphasized Bassitt’s ability to move between the rotation and bullpen and his veteran savvy, suggesting that a pitcher with his résumé could help bridge the gap while Wheeler works back to full strength and before younger arms take on heavier workloads.
“No one is clearly knocking down the door to sign him. We’re in late January, heading into February, and he’s still unsigned,” Thomas said on his January-ending podcast episode. “I think he’d be a really sound investment for the Phillies.”
Jonathan Vankin JONATHAN VANKIN is an award-winning journalist and writer who now covers baseball and other sports for Heavy.com. He twice won New England Press Association awards for sports feature writing. He was a sports editor and writer at The Daily Yomiuri in Tokyo, Japan, covering Japan Pro Baseball, boxing, sumo and other sports. More about Jonathan Vankin
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