After a disappointing showing in 2025, the Baltimore Orioles had their work cut out for them heading into the offseason.
Looking to bounce back in 2026, the organization has made several important moves over the winter, signing top free agents such as Pete Alonso and Zach Eflin, while also trading for players like Taylor Ward and Shane Baz.
According to former Orioles manager Buck Showalter, however, the recent signing of veteran starting pitcher Chris Bassitt to a one-year, $18.5 million contract is the best deal of the offseason.
“Chris Bassitt, I said the other day, might be the best signing of the offseason. You know every season has its ups and downs. The thing about Chris, he doesn’t let things snowball. If he has a clunker, he’s going to be the same guy in the clubhouse the next day, he’s not going to blame anybody. He’s going to come in and go, ‘Let’s get after it.’ He’s going to do the drills in spring training like it’s his first day in Little League. He’s a good teammate,” Showalter said on Tuesday’s episode of the ‘Ryan Ripken Show.’
“Listen, he’s one of my favorite pitchers I’ve had, as far as just bringing everything out. You saw him on the postseason, the big moment does not sneak up on him. He’s got a tatented hand, he can manipulate the ball in the strike zone. He’s got these long fingers that will shorten up his breaking ball. Yeah, he’s 37 years old, but for the money and the commitment, and all things considered, it might be the best signing of the offseason. I’m not shocked, I’m surprised other teams did not jump on him,” he added.
Baltimore Orioles POBO Explains Thought Process Behind Decision To Sign Chris Bassitt
Speaking to MLB Network Radio on Sunday, Baltimore Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias discussed the thought process behind the decision to sign Chris Bassitt.
“He really pulls our whole rotation together and helps anchor our rotation. He’s got a tremendous amount of experience, particularly going to the World Series last year with the Jays. But, you know, he has almost ten years in the big leagues, he’s a veteran, pitches with a lot of guile and pitchability. I think he’s in great shape for his age, 36. I think he’s turning 37 in a couple of weeks,” Elias said.
“The last four seasons, he’s been just remarkably consistent and productive. We value all that. We have a young rotation, with some guys with a lot of upside. I think that Bassitt, with the innings that he pitches, really helps secure the entirety of our rotation, and we come into camp with six guys that are really established major league starting pitchers, and some other really good young pitchers. So we like the depth, and obviously there’s strength in numbers,” he added.
Playing for the Toronto Blue Jays, Chris Bassitt finished the 2025 season with an 11-9 record, 3.96 ERA, and 166 strikeouts. Orioles fans will hope to see the veteran play a key role in helping the team return to the playoffs in 2026.
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