Blue Jays Right-Hander Predicted To Surprisingly Land With Guardians

Chris Bassitt’s free-agent market has been quiet this offseason, opening doors for unexpected pairings.

Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer named the Cleveland Guardians as an ideal surprise match.

“There hasn’t been a lot of action on Chris Bassitt throughout the winter,” Rymer wrote on Monday. “Only the Detroit Tigers are known to have interest in him, per Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic. It’s a bit odd, considering that Bassitt has been a solidly above-average source of innings for seven years. He’s perfect for a team that has a strong rotation up top, but which could use stability toward the back end.”

“The Guardians match that description,” Rymer continued. “The Gavin Williams-Tanner Bibee duo is solid, but Logan Allen and Slade Cecconi are average-ish types. The Guardians otherwise lack a solid option for the No. 5 spot. For what it’s worth, Bassitt is an Ohio native who played college ball in Akron. That’s only about an hour’s drive from Cleveland.”

Bassitt has established the status of a workhorse starter throughout his career, with an All-Star appearance in 2021 with the Athletics representing his peak. 

The 36-year-old was 11-9 in 2025 for the Blue Jays, with a 3.96 ERA and 166 strikeouts in 170 1/3 innings.