The Orioles and right-handed pitcher Chris Bassitt are in agreement on a one-year, $18.5 million contract, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The agreement, which was confirmed by an industry source, includes a $3 million signing bonus and $500,000 in incentives if Bassitt starts 27 games.
Bassitt, who turns 37 on February 22nd, will join a starting rotation that includes Kyle Bradish, Trevor Rogers, Shane Baz, Dean Kremer and Zach Eflin.
In 11 seasons with the Chicago White Sox, Oakland A’s, New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays, Bassitt is 83-65 with a 3.64 ERA. He has four consecutive seasons of 30-plus starts.
Last season, Bassitt was 11-9 with a 3.96 ERA in 32 games for the Blue Jays, with 166 strikeouts in 170⅓ innings. He pitched in seven postseason games, all in relief, allowing just one run on three hits in 8 1/3 innings, striking out 10 and walking two.
The deal is pending a physical.
Since 2019, Bassitt is one of only 13 pitchers with at least 1,000 innings pitched and an ERA under 4.00. The group includes Framber Valdez, Zac Gallen, Dylan Cease and Merrill Kelly — all free agents this winter.
The Orioles, who have an opening on their 40-man roster, won’t have to drop a player when Bassitt is officially added.
Once the contract is finalized, the Orioles will have spent more than $200 million on free agents this offseason. The club previously signed first baseman Pete Alonso, closer Ryan Helsley, starter Zach Eflin and outfielder Leody Taveras to free agent deals.
Bassitt’s addition will increase the Orioles’ estimated payroll to $166 million, up from $160 million last season, according to FanGraphs.com’s Roster Resource.
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