The Baltimore Orioles have agreed to phrases with free agent right-hander Chris Bassitt on a one-year, $18.5 million contract for 2026, ESPN studies.

Bassitt, who turns 37 on Feb. 22, spent final season with the American League-champion Blue Jays. In 31 begins and one aid look for Toronto, he pitched to a 3.96 ERA and a 4.01 FIP with 166 strikeouts in 170 ⅓ innings. For his profession, Bassitt owns an ERA+ of 114 throughout elements of 11 big-league seasons. He is earned one All-Star choice and on three events completed within the prime 10 within the Cy Younger vote.

Earlier within the offseason, CBS Sports activities ranked Bassitt because the No. 34 out there free agent within the 2025-26 class. This is a part of RJ Anderson’s write-up:

“You will not discover many pitchers like Bassitt, who chucks his main pitch (a sinker) greater than 40% of the time and but nonetheless manages to throw seven different choices at the very least three out of each 100 tosses. (These different eight pitches embrace a cutter, curve, four-seamer, sweeper, splitter, slider, and changeup.) Most of Bassitt’s matériel grade out as common, give or take, however he is discovered success by mixing, matching, and finding. His sturdiness (he is began 30-plus instances 4 years operating) and kitchen-sink strategy make him a helpful pitcher to have readily available throughout the common season. It’s telling, although, that the Blue Jays left him out of their postseason rotation.”

In Baltimore, Bassitt will be part of a remade rotation that additionally consists of Shane Baz, who was acquired in commerce from the Rays. The Orioles are hoping to rebound from a disappointing 2025 marketing campaign by which they misplaced 87 video games and completed final within the AL East. Final season, Baltimore ranked twenty fourth in MLB in rotation ERA and twenty fifth in rotation FIP.