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](https://nesn.com/teams/mlb/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](https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25367407-surprise-landing-spots-framber-valdez-justin-verlander-and-top-mlb-free-agents). “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.
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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.
Featured image via John E. Sokolowski/Imagn Images