BALTIMORE, MD – The Baltimore Orioles have added a seasoned arm to their rotation, reportedly agreeing to a one-year, $18.5 million contract with veteran right-hander Chris Bassitt, pending a physical. The deal, first reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan, brings a reliable innings-eater to a team aiming to build on a promising trajectory.
Bassitt, who turns 37 on February 22nd, arrives in Baltimore after a season with the Toronto Blue Jays where he went 11-9 with a 3.96 ERA across 170 1/3 innings. He also logged 8 2/3 innings of one-run ball in the postseason, working out of the bullpen during Toronto’s playoff run. The contract includes a $3 million signing bonus and an additional $500,000 in incentives should he reach 27 starts, a benchmark he’s achieved in each of the last five seasons.
The Orioles have been active this offseason, addressing needs across the roster following a 75-87 finish in 2025. The addition of Bassitt continues a trend under President of Baseball Operations Mike Elias of bringing in veteran starting pitchers on one-year deals. While previous attempts with Kyle Gibson (successful in 2023) and a reunion with Gibson alongside additions of Charlie Morton and Tomoyuki Sugano didn’t yield the desired results, the Orioles believe Bassitt represents a safer floor.
Bassitt’s consistency is a key attribute. He didn’t consistently reach 100 innings pitched until his age-30 season in 2019, but has since become a dependable presence in the mid-rotation. Over the past seven years, he’s allowed between three and four earned runs per nine innings with remarkable regularity, with his 2.29 ERA in the shortened 2020 season being a notable outlier. He’s one of only six pitchers to surpass 150 innings pitched in each of the last five seasons, ranking eighth in total innings pitched over that stretch.
His repertoire features an eight-pitch mix, anchored by a sinker that averaged 91.6 mph last season. While his velocity has dipped slightly in recent years, he continues to effectively utilize a variety of pitches – including a cutter, curveball, splitter, and four-seamer – to keep hitters off balance. Bassitt’s ability to limit hard contact is a significant asset.
One area of concern for the Orioles may be Bassitt’s recent struggles against left-handed hitters. Since the start of 2023, lefties have hit .284/.360/.483 against him, a noticeable increase compared to his performance against right-handed batters (.224/.286/.323). This could influence how manager Craig Albernaz utilizes him in key matchups.
The Orioles’ pursuit of pitching hasn’t stopped with Bassitt. They traded for right-hander Shane Baz and left fielder Taylor Ward, and also re-signed Zach Eflin to a $10 million contract. They also signed closer Ryan Helsley to a two-year deal to replace the injured Félix Bautista. The trade of Grayson Rodriguez for Taylor Ward signaled a willingness to address offensive needs while bolstering the pitching staff.
Bassitt’s arrival provides stability to a rotation that includes Trevor Rogers, Kyle Bradish, and Shane Baz. Eflin is expected to be a full participant in Spring Training and is slated for the fifth starter role, assuming he recovers fully from back surgery. This could push Dean Kremer and Tyler Wells back to Triple-A Norfolk, though both pitchers retain options and could be valuable assets in long relief or as potential replacements should injuries arise.
The Orioles’ payroll now projects to $166 million, according to RosterResource, a modest increase of $6 million from last season’s opening day figure. This suggests the team may be nearing its financial limit for significant additions, but could remain flexible to acquire talent mid-season if opportunities present themselves.
With Bassitt now in the fold, the Orioles have addressed a critical need for reliable starting pitching. While he may not be a frontline ace, his consistency and ability to eat innings make him a valuable addition to a team with aspirations of returning to contention in the American League East. The market for starting pitching continues to thin, with Zac Gallen, Lucas Giolito, and Max Scherzer remaining as the most prominent free agents available.
