Right-hander Chris Bassitt was one of 14 players to receive a qualifying offer ahead of yesterday’s deadline, getting the one-year, $19.65MM offer from the Mets. However, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports that Bassitt will turn that down and seek a multi-year deal.
Bassitt, 34 in February, wasn’t as much of a slam-dunk case to reject the QO as superstars like Aaron Judge or Jacob deGrom. Nevertheless, it never seemed especially likely that he would accept it either. Over the past four years, he has established himself as a consistently effective hurler.
Since the start of 2019, he’s thrown 546 innings with a 3.31 ERA, 23.1% strikeout rate, 6.7% walk rate and 44.3% ground ball rate. His 9.3 fWAR in that time is 32nd among all pitchers in baseball. He might not be an ace, but he’s a solid and reliable pitcher that would upgrade just about any rotation in the league. Starting pitching is always in high demand and Bassitt figures to garner plenty of interest in the weeks and months to come.
He’s a bit of an unusual case in that he didn’t really establish himself until he was 30 and now reaches free agency with his 34th birthday coming up during Spring Training. Going through the arbitration system, he got his salary as high as $8.65MM in 2022, plus a $150K buyout on the mutual option he eventually turned down. That means that a $19.65MM salary would be more than double his previous career high. However, this is likely his greatest chance at long-term security, given his strong multi-year platform. Taking the QO and returning to free agency a year from now would mean that he’s one year older, which would dampen his offers, and there’s always the chance of some kind of injury limiting his market at that point. Even with the QO attached, MLBTR predicts he can earn effectively the value of the QO but with a longer commitment, $60MM over three years.
There’s nothing preventing he and the Mets from reuniting on a new contract, though the Mets will now be competing with the 29 other teams. Should Bassitt ultimately sign elsewhere this winter, the Mets will be entitled to draft pick compensation. Since the Mets paid the competitive balance tax in 2022, their compensatory pick gets bumped to after the fourth round. Under this scenario, the team signing Bassitt will also be subject to forfeiting at least one draft pick, with the exact nature of the penalty dependant upon if that team paid the CBT or received revenue sharing.
I can see why since DeGrom is gonna leave proabably.
I actually thought he may take it, but I suppose he wants a multi-year deal.
Yes. He’ll be 34 next season and he’s never had a shot at free agency. Good pitcher not showing decline. He’ll get a four year deal. His market will be strong.
I agree. Like Bassitt a lot.
I think Bassitt maxes out at 3 years.
That’s a tough age for a starter to get 4 years without being a JV or scherzer type.
Of course the Padres just gave 5 years to a 31 year old 2nd year reliever. So it only takes 1
I don’t see teams being that concerned with his age as he doesn’t have a lot of mileage on his arm. He’s only thrown about 1,300 innings in his pro career and he’s been reliable while performing well
Bassitt will be the healthy innings eater the Dodgers could use and he will thrive pitching in Dodger Stadium.
Three years max. It’s not like he’s a star.
He had an interesting situation with his option and QO. I believe the mutual option was set at $19M before anyone knew exactly what the QO would be with a very low buyout of $150K. That effectively made the QO $19.8M. He should still beat that with a $20M AAV. The Mets will probably offer him at least 3/$60M.
He was probably waiting for the predictions to come out before he made a decision
Man, to me that’s a tough take to give up a pick for. But what do I know. Ha
He’s been one of the most consistent arms of the last few years. Better than average ERA+ in last 5 seasons, and no lower than 113 ERA+. If he has average defense around him, he should be an excellent #2 on a competitive team. Averages 28 starts per last 3 full seasons (2020 excluded).
Good info, haven’t really followed this dude. Sounds like he could and should get a healthy contract
He’s been pretty underrated for a while now, which is probably a byproduct of playing in Oakland prior to this year, and I’d be just fine with my Orioles burning a third round pick to land him.
He may not top that in AAV, but he’ll definitely get close to it for 3-4 years. My prediction is 3/$55 million or 4/$70 million. He’s been good for 4+ straight years with few injuries. This is a good move on his part to decline the QO.
Maybe a solid buy for my Giants. Who knows what the front office is up to though outside of FZ saying money isn’t a problem. I’m hoping for a lot of solid signings.
He deserve a multi year deal. The Mets now can counter with a multiple year deal.. 3/$50 seems to be about right.
Future Oriole
The Athletic suggested the Os probably need 2 FA pitchers. Interesting. I’m thinking both upgrades from Lyles?
Me too, I would love to see Bassitt in black and orange, but too expensive? He’s a 2 and we can only budget a couple of 3/4s? Walker a righty and Smiley a lefty fit the bill here? Initially they are a 1/2 punch in rotation until Means is back and Rodriguez/Hall get acclimated to the show? Then they slide back.
I don’t think we need 2.
We could take 2, sure.
But we could get by without.
Bradish,G-Rod,Wells, Kremer, Means (at some point), and Voth.
DL hall potentially as well.
He will have many suitors. He actually makes more
sense for the Braves then Degrom. He will be cheaper and slot him in the 3/4 slot. They have top end starters for the playoffs already but don’t get me wrong. He needs to stay in New York.
He’s a pitcher who could fit on almost any team out there. Not sure what his preference may be on location or discount for winning, but I can see teams like the Angels or Orioles making him a priority. Would also be a nice addition to the Cardinals, and of course a return to the Mets would be ideal. Whoever gets him will be happy, and 3/60 would be a realistic return IMHO. 4/75 if someone really needs pitching and lost out on others. CB isn’t a pitcher who needs to throw hard to be effective, so his arm should age well.
I see him going to Texas. Eflin May wind up there as well.
Pick him up Tigs, and trade ERod.
Wow after seeing Bassitt turn down a $19.6m deal, it makes Charlie Morton’s $20m look like a steal.
I wouldn’t go that far. He’s five years older than Bassitt and was pretty average in two of the last three years (2020’s 9 starts and 2022). Bassitt has been solidly above average for 4+ straight years.
The Hound has been released
What kind of contract will a 34-year-old pitcher that is only thrown over 150 innings twice be able to get?
A good one.
He will get 3 years at 15 million a year with a club option for a fourth year at around 13 million. Innings eater that pitches well but is already going to be 35 next season. Hes a pitcher that relies on outsmarting his opponents but his stuff isn’t overpowering. Thats where I think teams might think twice about paying him anything more than what I believe
Yankees
Damn good pitcher. Much more chance he gives a team 30 starts than some if the higher priced constantly injured primadonnas.
I hope the Mets are still talking to Bassitt’s agent. Steady pitcher much the way Ron Darling was behind Doc Gooden.