The Baltimore Orioles are making a bold move by signing veteran starting pitcher Chris Bassitt to a one-year, $18.5 million deal, as reported by Jeff Passan of ESPN. But is this a wise decision? Let's dive in.
A Proven Veteran, But Age is a Factor:
Bassitt, represented by Meister Sports Management, is set to receive a $3 million signing bonus and an additional $500K in bonuses if he starts 27 games. The Orioles, having recently waived infielder Bryan Ramos to the St. Louis Cardinals, had an open spot on their 40-man roster to accommodate this move.
President of baseball operations Mike Elias has a history of signing veteran starters to short-term deals. The success of these signings has been mixed. While Kyle Gibson performed well in 2023, last winter's acquisitions of Charlie Morton and Tomoyuki Sugano didn't live up to expectations. Bassitt, approaching his 37th birthday, is at a different stage in his career, which could impact his performance.
Consistent Performance, But Can He Maintain It?
Bassitt's MLB career took off after turning 30 in 2019, and he has since been a reliable mid-rotation starter. His earned run average has remained consistently below 4.00, except for a small outlier in the shortened season. He's been dependable, allowing three to four earned runs per nine innings while handling a heavy workload. Bassitt's durability is impressive, having pitched over 150 innings in each of the last five seasons, a feat achieved by only six pitchers during that period.
Solid Stats, But What About Left-Handed Batters?
Bassitt's performance last year was impressive: a 3.96 ERA with slightly above-average underlying numbers. He struck out 22.6% of batters while maintaining a 7.1% walk rate across 170 1/3 innings. However, his per-pitch whiff rate is slightly below average. Despite this, he has consistently struck out 22-23% of opponents over the past four seasons.
As Bassitt enters his mid-30s, his pitch velocity has slightly decreased. His sinker, his primary pitch, averaged 91.6 mph last season, close to his career low. However, this is still within the 92-93 mph range he's maintained throughout his career. Statcast identified eight distinct pitches in his arsenal during his final season with the Toronto Blue Jays, but he primarily relies on his sinker, cutter, and curveball to limit hard contact.
The potential concern lies in Bassitt's recent struggles against left-handed hitters. While he dominated them earlier in his career, his platoon splits have widened in recent years. Since 2023, lefties have hit him hard, boasting a .284/.360/.483 line in over 1200 plate appearances. Conversely, he's kept same-handed opponents in check, holding them to a meager .224/.286/.323 line in a similar number of at-bats.
Bassitt is coming off a three-year, $63 million contract with the Blue Jays, where he delivered 541 1/3 innings with a 3.89 ERA during the regular season. He proved reliable, missing only one start due to a minor back inflammation issue last September. Despite missing the Division Series against the Yankees, he returned for the AL Championship Series, pitching effectively in relief and becoming a trusted arm for manager John Schneider.
The Verdict:
The Orioles are betting on Bassitt's consistency and experience, but his age and recent struggles against lefties could be potential red flags. Will this signing pay off, or will it be a costly gamble? What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments!
