Orioles Sign Veteran RHP Chris Bassitt to One-Year $18.5M Deal Pending Physical

Baltimore added veteran right-hander Chris Bassitt to its rotation in mid-February, finalizing a one-year, $18.5 million contract that is pending a physical. The deal includes a $3 million signing bonus and up to $500,000 in incentives if Bassitt reaches 27 starts.

The financial terms were reported as $18.5 million guaranteed with a $3,000,000 signing bonus and a $500,000 start-based incentive tied to 27 starts. ESPN noted the deal is pending a physical and wrote, “The deal, which is pending a physical, includes a $3 million signing bonus and $500,000 in incentives if Bassitt starts 27 games, sources told ESPN.”

On the field, Bassitt arrives off a 2025 season with the Toronto Blue Jays in which he went 11–9 with a 3.96 ERA, struck out 166 batters, and logged 170 1/3 innings across 32 games and 31 starts. He shifted to a bullpen role in the Blue Jays’ postseason, allowing one run in 8 2/3 innings in relief; postseason strikeout totals are reported variably as seven and 10 across different accounts and should be reconciled with official box scores.

Bassitt’s career resume includes an 83–65 record, a 3.64 ERA, 1,191 strikeouts and 1,278 2/3 career innings pitched across 232 games (218 starts). Durability has been a selling point: Bassitt made at least 30 starts in each of the past four seasons and has thrown 150-plus innings every season since 2021. ESPN also noted that Bassitt’s 880 1/3 innings over the last five seasons rank eighth among MLB pitchers in that span.

Scouting and analytic marks characterize Bassitt as a low-90s fastball pitcher with an eight-pitch mix who induces weak contact and ground balls. Rate metrics show a strikeout percentage around 22 percent, a 46.1 percent ground-ball rate in 2025, a hard-hit rate of 36.6 percent (80th percentile) and average exit velocity of 87.7 mph (85th percentile). MLB summarized the fit plainly: “The Orioles were looking for a reliable, durable pitcher who can be a quality arm, and Bassitt fits the bill.”

Adding Bassitt reshapes Baltimore’s rotation competition. Projected starters now include Kyle Bradish, Trevor Rogers, Shane Baz, Bassitt, Zach Eflin and Dean Kremer, with Tyler Wells, Brandon Young and Cade Povich competing for depth or Triple-A Norfolk assignments. BaltimorePositive observed that a six-man rotation could be used and noted, “Adding another established arm to the rotation mix should allow the Orioles to move right-hander Tyler Wells to a bullpen that still looks short on high-leverage options.” That outlet also reported that “new manager Craig Albernaz would prefer not to lean too hard on either of his top two projected starters, especially early in the season.”

The Bassitt signing comes amid a busy Orioles winter that includes free-agent additions such as Pete Alonso and closer Ryan Helsley, the trade acquisition of Shane Baz, the arrival of Taylor Ward and the December re-signing of Zach Eflin to a one-year, $10 million deal. ESPN noted the club has guaranteed more than $200 million in free-agent signings this winter, while TheBanner cited FanGraphs’ Roster Resource projecting Baltimore’s payroll at $166 million, up from $160 million and ranking 16th in MLB.

Immediate items to watch: whether Bassitt passes the club physical, confirmation of his exact postseason strikeout totals, and how the Orioles deploy their rotation in spring training, particularly whether Tyler Wells moves to the bullpen and who begins the season in Triple-A Norfolk. Bassitt, who turns 37 on Feb. 22, gives Baltimore an innings-eating veteran as it tries to avoid a repeat of the injury-driven 75–87 finish in 2025.