Chris Bassitt signs $18.5M deal with Orioles; bolsters rotation

Veteran right-hander Chris Bassitt, 37, has finalized a one-year, $18.5 million contract with the Baltimore Orioles, including $500k in incentives. Bassitt, who turns 37 next Sunday, spent the last three seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays, where he was a reliable workhorse, posting a 3.89 ERA and pitching over 170 innings each season. In 2025, he recorded an 11-9 record with a 3.96 ERA and 1.33 WHIP over 170.1 innings, making 31 starts. He also contributed to the Blue Jays' World Series run with a 1.04 ERA in 8.2 playoff relief innings. Bassitt will add a steady, experienced arm to an Orioles rotation that finished with a 4.65 ERA last year.