Free agent starter Chris Bassitt is “seeking a contract longer than three years,” according to Mike Puma of the New York Post (Twitter link). This might impact the chances of a reunion between Bassitt and the Mets, as Puma writes that the Amazins aren’t keen on going beyond a three-year deal.
This is Bassitt’s first trip to free agency after playing in parts of eight MLB seasons and he is entering his age-34 campaign. Given how well he has pitched since his 2018 return from Tommy John surgery, it isn’t surprising that Bassitt would want to land the biggest contract possible in his first crack at a lucrative multi-year agreement. Of course, from the perspective of any pitching-needy teams, Bassitt’s age and injury history are also reasons to be wary of committing significant money to the right-hander into his age-37 or even his age-38 season.
The TJ surgery and subsequent recovery kept Bassitt off a big league mound for over two full years, from April 2016 to June 2018. As such, an argument could be made that Bassitt’s arm is actually pretty fresh for a pitcher of his age, given that he has only 737 1/3 Major League innings on his resume. Since returning from the Tommy John rehab, Bassitt has been pretty durable, missing a few weeks in 2019 with a lower-leg contusion and a week this season on the COVID-related injury list. Bassitt’s most notable injury was a facial fracture in late 2021, after he was hit in the face by a line drive off the bat of Brian Goodwin — remarkably, Bassitt was able to return to action a little over a month later.
Bassitt declined his end of a $19MM mutual option for 2023, and he then turned down a qualifying offer from the Mets. Therefore, his market could also be impacted by the draft compensation a new team would have to surrender to sign the righty. The QO has tended to be a bit more of an obstacle for players like Bassitt who aren’t in the clear-cut upper tier of the free agent market, but given some of the early action on the pitching market, the demand for arms should help Bassitt land a sizeable deal, and perhaps even a fourth guaranteed year.
After all, Jacob deGrom already surpassed expectations by landing a five-year deal from the Rangers, which will be worth at least $185MM. With deGrom off the board, the Mets may have to think harder about going outside their comfort zone if they want to bring Bassitt back to Queens. New York has been connected to several other pitchers besides Bassitt, as such names as Justin Verlander, Carlos Rodon, and Jameson Taillon have also emerged on the Mets’ radar in recent days.
Dang. Fours years & giving up draft picks?
No thanks
Degrom got 5 … Verlander will get 3….. why not ask for 4?
Asking for and getting are two very different things.
He’s a legend in his own mind…
I haven’t studied it but has he been helped by playing half of each season in Oakland and then Citi Field?
Home: 2.86, Away: 4.26
He’s pitches 17 or so more innings at home so it’s essentially a wash. I’d say he definitely has benefitted from those pitchers ballparks.
Don’t most pitchers/hitters have better stats at home?
That I can’t tell you but if you are in a pitcher’s park for all home games, you definitely have an advantage.
These pitching contracts are getting way out of hand. 34 year olds looking for 5 year deals…I don’t blame them, but no way will these contracts age well.
VonPurpleHayes;
Now do you see why small market teams with a strong pitching development area can compete and succeed against large and mid market teams?
Pitching is the name of the game. Take Cleveland. Shane Bieber is one of the top 5 starters in MLB. He’s young. The Guardians drafted and developed him. He’ll make a bit over $11m in 2023. Their #2 starter is Triston McKenzie. He’ll make under $2m in 2023. They traded for a prospect and developed Emmanuel Clase as a closer – today he might be the best in MLB. He’s controlled (not yet 6 years of service) and making a reasonable amount. The same for their 2 top set-up men – James Karinchak and Trevor Stephan.
Now we get back to Chris Bassitt….
Teams are tripping over one another to pay this guy retail-plus for 3-4 years because he’s a proven 33 year-old MLB starter. So he’s going to “Get Paid!”. Fine. Large market and upper mid-market teams will pay that because they can’t develop their own pitchers….
…..and I haven’t even gotten to the Guardians (and Orioles) overflowing list of quality young position players that were good / very good in 2022…..most of whom will be even better in 2023 and beyond. When they get through their 6th year, teams that can’t develop their own players will give those guys hundreds of millions of dollars. Meanwhile the Guardians and Orioles will have another batch of young players that most posters on here never heard of. Those fans/posters won’t understand why those 2 teams continue to win…..they’ll say the teams “got hot”…or their opponents “got cold”…or something like that.
P.S. And that’s why these moronic trade proposals for the Guardians or Orioles trading 2 or 3 of their best prospects for a veteran player at a high salary, and/or demand that the teams not be “cheap” and sign-up a veteran player asking $30m a year for multiple years. In time some of their young players will grow to be better than those targets, and the money will be there to extend them.
Bieber in the top 5? More like top 10 maybe
@Samuel
Can’t compare Orioles with Guardians. Orioles go into rebuild.
And to win championships, even quality young teams need veterans to lead.
@ Samuel
The big 3 successful ‘frugal’ mlb franchises would probably be Cleveland, Tampa Bay and Oakland. All three have a lot of roster turnover and rarely if ever sign big contracts but all remain competitive for the most part.
Funny thing though, 20 years of moneyball in Oakland has produced zero titles. The Rays have been doing Raysball for 15+ years now, zero titles. The Guardians, God love ’em, haven’t won a title since 1948.
Yes, cheap, self-developed youth is an important component of most, if not all championship teams. But it’s not the only part. Every team that wins a title had to make auxiliary additions, either through free agency or adding a bigger contract through trade.
There are 3 basic groups of players on every title winner:
1 – Young, talented but inexperienced guys
2 – prime career stars or at least highly skilled and past arbitration
3 – wily vets who provide leadership with reduced skills and reduced cost
The teams you keep putting on a pedestal have lots of young studs and often a few from the 3rd level, but they almost always trade away their young guys when they hit the second level. They always lose in the end because they don’t have the difference makers when they need them most.
Virtually every World Series winner in the last 20 years has won with a combination of good, relatively cheap young players AND a handful of expensive stars acquired via free agency or trade.
If the Guardians and Orioles had the resources for big-name free agents, they would be doing the same thing though.
Canuckleball;
I love it when people only talk a but WS titles….
This player never won a championship.
This manager never won a championship.
This POBO never won a championship.
This owner never won a championship.
Blah blah blah
There are now 30 teams in MLB. Each year ONE wins a championship.
If there was a formula or a statistical breakdown that shows why a MLB team wins a championship – everyone would be copying it.
The small market teams have done what they’ve done out of necessity. No 2 do it the exact same way.
Since 2009 – the last year the (large revenue team in MLB) Yankees have been in the World Series, here are a list of small market teams that have:
2014 – Royals
2015 – Royals (won it)
2016 – Indians / Guardians
2020 – Rays
Since small market teams make up maybe 20-25% of MLB teams, they pretty much seems to be in line with getting to the WS.
My point is that they do it on a fraction with other teams spend. And the commonality is that they have primarily young / inexpensive players on their roster.
Since I watch a tremendous amount of games on MLB.TV each year, I can tell you that by-n-large the good small market teams are far more interesting to watch each year. They play harder and smarter.
And furthermore…..
Since 2013 the small market teams have learned what they need to do to be contenders, And each year more are getting better doing it.
Mr. Samuel here is a sooth-sayer.
Lol Samuel posts are so funny. Such conviction but no sense.
Yes thank you Sam, we are all aware that players are under paid their first 6 years then over paid in FA. So what should teams do to get better from year to year, draft a guy and wait 5 years for them to contribute? Let’s keep more money in the pockets of the owners, sounds great.
I think he can get one. But if not, he probably won’t have a team until late January.
In this market I’d bet he will get 4 years.
Given his age and history Bassitt may not be hounded with offers. His agent will have to work doggedly for that deal.
@Captain Dunsel
His history is that he’s been a very good starting pitcher for the past 5 years
The Mets might try to releash him but it’ll take a lot of biscuits.
Doggone good comment
5 years 150 mil. Can’t have him top deGrom.
You really think he’s gonna get 30M AAV Trumbo?
I think 3/$57M, with a team option on a 4th yr that vests to a player option on IP or something.
No Coop hah. But I bet he gets something close to what Rodon gets.
I don’t think Rodon gets as much as people are thinking. Bassitt will probably come in at 5mil a year less.
Oh I see bassitt around 4-76 at most and rodon more like 5-145
Ma, that’s what I’m saying…The fact that Rodon is worth twice as much vexes me…I would like to see how they compared the last 2 seasons stat for stat. I get he is 4 years and change older. If Bassitt and him were the same age there wouldn’t be much of a difference with the comp I think. Who appears healthiest is the biggest factor for me.
idk, I see rodon as dominant and on the upper tier with the top guys now (only if he’s healthy, of course). And I’m not a slave to stats, but the stats do support that for pitchers with 300+ IP last two years- he’s 1st in all MLB in K/9, 4th in ERA, 4th in WHIP, 8th in K/BB, 3rdin SIERA. He really is one of the very best the last two years, so if he’s healthy, he’s way above Bassitt (who’s in the 15-25 range on those categories). But if he’s half the price, then maybe he is the better value like you say – depending on the team, the payroll, etc. I actually see him as a good fit for TX or Balt or your Angels.
Ma, you swayed me. And I also agree the Halos could use him mightily.
I just watched rodon enough and saw how filthy he was. Bassitt is more crafty (overly methodical sometimes), but solid. Write him down for 3.30/1.15 in most parks. Do you think the halos go for another sp though, or keep rounding out a lineup that could really use more depth? I like the Renfroe move. Fills the old Calhoun role, but probably better.
Mets may be in on both. Rodon, 6/170. Bassitt, 4/80. Market-driven over pays. Still have some Uncle Stevie change for Nimmo+Otovino+lefty pen help.
Mets in my opinion have to make some big splash in pitching to a solid team in 2023. If not they could easily be the 3rd best team in the division. Atlanta and Philadelphia look strong going into 2023
Julio Urias probably going to get an 8 year 300 mil extension with the Dodgers.
Hoping for my Tigs to snag a home town discy!!
Someone will want ERod.
Hahahahaha Hometown “discy!!”
Rogers!!
Mets gave up 2 young studs in Oller and Ginn and now can’t even afford to re-sign Bassitt?
When will cheap baseball owners learn to invest on the field?
Billy Beane wins another trade
Did you watch Oller pitch?
74 innings of 6.30 ERA and 1.63 WHIP doesn’t equal young stud in my book, especially in the pitcher friendly confines of Oakland.
I’d be surprised if he isn’t released next year.
The As did not win that trade.
Sounds like Billy Beane stole your girlfriend or something. Just admit the A’s are the best team to ever exist in any sport and we’ll forgive you for badmouthing Billy.
Sucks being an A’s fan, I know. Oller is garbage.
he was a throw in lottery ticket that didn’t cash
I thought swansea fc was the best team in sports
As a Mets fan, I would give him 4. I know that he didn’t do well in his last starts against the Braves and the Padres, but he was a dependable bulldog during the season. He’s got a 6 pitch repertoire, mixes his pitches well and keeps the hitters off balance, and seems to be a good team player. He was their most reliable pitcher and didn’t get hurt. 4 years, 72 million. He’ll slot in nicely behind Scherzer and Verlander.
Four years for Bassitt would be surprising. 3/60-65, anything more and I’d have to say his agent did well.
Seek away, young Padawan, seek away. I hear the Rangers are hiring…
Master Clip, does the force tell you if the Halos should go for him or not?
Halos should…. I like Bassitt, but 4 is a little heavy. 3 with an option is fine, imo. He’s solid for any mid-rotation though, my friend.
Go after him, they should.
And unfortunately a team will actually pay him a lot and give him the 4 years.. teams/GMs are make some terrible decisions and give out some pretty bad contract.. more bad contracts than good
VPH is right, it’s getting crazy with these SP contracts, but that said, he’ll get it, probably from the Mets.
This guy will definitely get a 4 year deal in this pitching market. 76 over 4 is the bare minimum.
Jeff Suppan written all over this dude.
I feel a little Mike Hampton in here as well.
He won’t get 4 considering his ability level and age. Unless Texas wants to keep making dumb decisions.
The way things go right now with team desperate to win, if he wants 4 years he’ll definitely get them. Not sure about the average…probably 4 years 68….
He’s definitely getting at least three years, and given his market (and really, the market in general) I’d imagine someone gives him a fourth.
Don’t want to guarantee a fourth year? I think 3/75 plus a vesting option for a fourth year at up to $24 million would make sense. Pay him $70 million over the three guaranteed years with a $5 million buyout on the vesting option. Start the value of the option at $15 million and bump it up $3 million for every 5th start he makes after 15. So if he makes 20 starts he gets $18 million and if he makes 30 starts he maxes out the option.
There’s your compromise. Guarantee the three years and make it pretty easy for him to earn the fourth while protecting yourself if he just can’t hold up after the first three.
I think the Mets need to make him an offer like that. Losing deGrom, while a sound business decision, will hurt the rotation and having Bassitt back in the middle of the rotation would be a good start.
Bassitt brings a lot of bulldog too. Watch TX, Baltimore, Minnesota. SF was my guess but won’t go past 3.
Good pitcher. Seems quite reasonable request to me.
J.A. Happ was arguably the same pitcher as Chris Bassitt in certain ways. Jays gave him 3 – 36. Is Bassitt really gonna get more then that? That’s a bit of a stretch
He is definitely going to get a lot more than 3/$36mil, it’s just a matter of whether he is worth it in the end. Probably not would be my guess.
That contract was signed six years ago. The market has changed a ton since then.
What are the orioles waiting for ??
I think the Orioles definitely wouldn’t want to invest 4 years in this situation.
I feel like 1 year/$25M w/ a mutual option at $25M and a $5M buyout is the most appropriate deal. Maybe 2 years/$40M w/ a $5M buyout on a $25M option etc. the only way he gets 4 years is if the 4th year is a 3 year/$60M deal with a vesting option that starts at $10M and can escalate to $25M w/ a $5M buyout or something.
After Verlander and Rendon he is probably the next best pitcher on the market. So many teams needing pitching I could see him easily getting 4-5 years @20-25 million a season.
If the Mets miss out on Verlander and Rendon they may have to meet his asking price to have a shot at a decent rotation.
I really wanted the Orioles to sign him but that fourth year is pretty off-putting for a non-elite 34 year old SP.
Please choose the Mets!
Forget Bassitt. Sign Verlander, Rodon and bring back Taijuan Walker.
If he’s seeking four years, is it likely because he has interest at 3 years and similar values from multiple teams and looking to find a team willing to separate their offer from the others? Four years sounds ambitious for him but probably reasonable to expect if he has a robust market at three.
He’ll get 4 years but it wont be from the Mets….you heard it here first.
Hope Mets stay away from Verlander if he wants more than a year. Also Taillon too inconsistent to offer multi year. RODON & Senga are the 2 Mets need to sign.
Mets