KANSAS CITY, MO – APRIL 22: Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Chris Bassitt (40) as seen during a MLB game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Kansas City Royals on April 22, 2026, at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Toronto Blue Jays have moved on from several key contributors since their run to the World Series last year, but that does not mean those relationships disappeared when players left the organization.
One of the most notable departures came when veteran right-hander Chris Bassitt signed a one-year, $18.5 million contract with the Baltimore Orioles after spending three seasons in Toronto.
During his Blue Jays tenure, Bassitt posted a 3.89 ERA across 96 appearances and became one of the club’s most respected veteran leaders.
This week, Bassitt faced his former club for the first time since leaving Toronto. And while the matchup carried obvious significance, the veteran admitted he tried to avoid thinking about the players in the opposing dugout.
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Bassitt took the mound against the Blue Jays last week and turned in one of his best starts of the season.
The 37-year-old allowed one run over six innings as the Orioles ultimately fell 2-1. Despite receiving a no-decision, Bassitt lowered his ERA and showed flashes of the pitcher who helped Toronto reach the World Series a season ago.
The reunion carried extra intrigue because of the relationships Bassitt developed in Toronto.
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Speaking after the game, Bassitt explained that he attempted to maintain tunnel vision throughout the day.
“I didn’t want to have a bad one against those guys, especially,” Bassitt said, according to Sportsnet’s Arden Zwelling. “I know how much crap talk they’re gonna give me if I do.”
The comment highlighted the close relationships he built during Toronto’s clubhouse run over the last several seasons.
Bassitt later acknowledged that his years with the Blue Jays exceeded his expectations. According to additional reporting following the game, the veteran said he did not expect to enjoy his time in Toronto as much as he ultimately did, reflecting the strong friendships he developed inside the clubhouse.
“There was obviously a lot of emotion,” Bassitt added after the reunion game, per Zwelling. “When I signed three years ago, I didn’t expect to have the relationship I had with all those people.”
While Bassitt’s focus was helping Baltimore win, his comments suggested the game carried extra meaning.
The veteran spent three seasons with the Blue Jays before signing with the Orioles, and even after changing uniforms, the relationships forged during Toronto’s World Series run remain intact.
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