Height
6'5"
Weight
217 lbs
Age
37
College
Akron
Draft
2011, Rd 16, #501
Experience
11 yrs
Bats/Throws
R/R
Fan Verdict
Grade this player:
Career StatsB
| Year | Team | GP | ERA | W-L | K | WHIP | IP | SV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career |  | 232 | 3.6389468 | 83-65 | 1191 | 1.245829 | 0.0 | 0 |
Current Contract
Length
1 year
Total Value
$18.5M
Guaranteed
$11.1M
AAV
$18.5M/yr
Contract Value Index (CVI)
The Orioles' one-year, $18.5M commitment to Chris Bassitt earns a D- CVI, representing a significant overpay for an above-average starter in today's market. While Bassitt brings veteran stability to a rotation supporting Baltimore's competitive window, this deal reflects the premium teams pay when caught between immediate contention needs and limited internal options. The 35-year-old right-hander's track record suggests he'll deliver roughly 3-4 WAR production, but that level of performance typically commands closer to $12-14M annually in the current free agent landscape. Baltimore's aggressive approach makes sense given their young core's timeline and the need to capitalize on Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson's prime years, but the financial inefficiency is glaring. The Orioles essentially paid a 25-30% premium for the security of a proven innings-eater rather than gambling on internal development or pursuing better value elsewhere. This contract epitomizes how teams with narrow competitive windows often make suboptimal financial decisions in pursuit of immediate roster upgrades.
Fan & Media Sentiment
The public perception of Chris Bassitt sits in that comfortable middle ground reserved for reliable veteran pitchers — respected but hardly celebrated. His $18.5M AAV deal with Baltimore signals organizational trust, yet the coverage feels more transactional than transformative, treating him as a steady veteran presence rather than a difference-maker for the Orioles' rotation. Bassitt's outspoken criticism of MLB salary cap proposals has added some edge to his profile, though it's polarized fans who either appreciate his candor or view it as unnecessary noise from a journeyman arm. The disconnect here is minimal — his B+ performance grade aligns well with the public sentiment, suggesting fans and media have a fairly accurate read on his value as an above-average starter who won't wow you but won't crater your rotation either. For Bassitt to shift the narrative in his favor, he'd need either a breakout season that pushes him into Cy Young conversations or a postseason run where his veteran savvy becomes the story. Right now, public opinion views him exactly as he is: a solid, dependable starter who represents smart roster construction rather than franchise-altering talent.
Recent Games
| Date | OPP | Result | AB | H | R | HR | RBI | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun, 4/5 | @ PIT | L 2-8 | - | - | - | 0 | - | - | - |
Transaction History
News & Buzz
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