MMO Trade Profile: Chris Bassitt, RHP

Throws: Right-Handed
Date of Birth: 2/22/1989 (32)

Traditional Stats: 27 GS, 12-4, 3.15 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 159 K, 157.1 IP
Advanced Stats: 3.34 FIP, 130 ERA+, 3.9 WAR, 21.9 K%

Rundown

The New York Mets 2021 starting rotation is starting to come together, but certainly is missing one or two more pieces.

The top is loaded with one of the best duos in the game in Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer. Behind them, Taijuan Walker and Carlos Carrasco are a bit of a question mark and the fifth spot seems to be still up for grabs.

General Manager Billy Eppler certainly made it seem like they’ll be adding one, maybe two, more starting pitchers to the mix before the beginning of the season. The free-agent market still has some talent, but the Mets should certainly also take a look at what’s available in trades.

In particular, the Mets should take a look at the Oakland Athletics pieces. The A’s are open for business looking to shed salary, and one of their more interesting names who may be available is right-hander Chris Bassitt.

Bassitt is without a doubt one of the more underrated pitchers in the game today. He was selected by the Chicago White Sox in the 16th round of the 2011 MLB Draft out of the University of Akron.

Bassitt began his professional career very strong. He pitched to a 1.82 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, averaged 10.6 K/9, and struck out 41 batters over 31 innings with the Bristol White Sox of the Appalachian League.

He quickly made his way through the system and made his big league debut with the White Sox during the 2014 season. Bassitt made just six appearances but posted a solid 3.94 ERA and 21 strikeouts.

Following the 2014 season, he was traded to the Oakland Athletics as part of a package for Jeff Samardzija and Michael Ynoa. Bassitt began the year with the Triple-A Nashville Sounds but was quickly promoted to the big leagues.

The righty made just 13 appearances in his first season with the A’s. Bassitt then made just five appearances during the 2016 season before he had to undergo Tommy John surgery, which forced him to miss the rest of that season and more than half of the 2017 season.

He finally returned to the big league mound and made just eleven appearances to close out the 2018 season. From there, Bassitt took off.

In 412 innings since returning from the surgery, Bassitt has pitched to a 3.23 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 129 ERA+, just 2.7 BB/9, 1.0 HR/9, and has 396 strikeouts. That’s pretty dang good, and Bassitt only seems to be getting better and better.

The right-hander posted a 3.81 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 8.8 K/9, and had 141 strikeouts in 25 starts during the 2019 season. He finished the 2020 pandemic shortened season eighth in AL Cy Young voting after pitching to a 2.29 ERA over 11 starts.

Bassitt followed that up by making his first career All-Star team and finishing tenth in Cy Young voting this past season. He made a career-high 27 starts and went 12-4 with a 3.15 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 3.34 FIP, 9,1 K/9, and 159 strikeouts.

According to Baseball Savant, Bassitt finished in the 65th percentile or better in the following categories; average exit velocity, hard-hit percentage, xwOBA, xERA, xBA, xSLG, walk percentage, and barrel percentage.

Bassitt mainly relies on his sinker, which he threw 35% of the time last season. He also throws a fastball, cutter, changeup, slider, and curveball. His curve has touched as low as 69 MPH and generated a 38.8% whiff percentage last season.

The late bloomer only seems to be getting better and better as he heads into his eighth season at the big league level. 

Package

Bassitt may be the most likely of the Athletics starting pitchers to be traded before the beginning of the season.

He is already 33-years old and is set to become a free agent after next season. Bassitt also is coming off two of his best seasons in the big leagues, and doesn’t have a ton of mileage on his arm.

His value is as high as it’s ever been, and there figures to be a ton of suitors lining up to acquire the talented right-hander once the lockout is lifted.

With that being said, I still expect Bassitt to be one of the less expensive starting pitchers available on the trading market.

It’s very well known that the Athletics are looking to shed salary, and Bassitt is projected to make around $8.8 million in arbitration. If they don’t plan on extending him long-term after this year, they are better off getting back what they can now in prospect capital.

The Mets more than likely wouldn’t have to move on from one of their top-tier prospects, which they seem to be looking to avoid. If Oakland is looking for a big-league player in return, I’d be willing to part with J.D. Davis in a deal.

Davis certainly made it seem at the end of last season that he doesn’t think he’ll be back with the club next year. The acquisition of Eduardo Escobar, and interest in Javier Baez and Kris Bryant certainly backs that up.

I feel like Davis along with a mid-to-lower tier prospect would be more than enough to get a deal done. While Bassitt’s value is at an all-time high, the fact that he is a 33-year old rental makes this a more than reasonable package.

Davis could jump in as the full-time designated hitter for the Athletics or could play third if Matt Chapman does end up being traded. Bassitt would help shore up what could and should be a very solid Mets starting rotation.

My Thoughts

I have always been a big fan of Bassitt. As I said above, I think he is one of the more, if not the most, underrated pitchers in the game today. He’s easily pitched like a top-20 pitcher in the game over the past two seasons. 

While I would prefer the Mets add a left-hander, such as his teammate Sean Manea, I think Bassitt would be an excellent way to top off this rotation.

For starters, Bassitt is a leader and has that sort of New York toughness Mets fans love. After being hit in the face by a line drive on August 17, Bassitt fought and worked his back to the big league mound by September 23.

Additionally, Bassitt is just a one-year rental, and at 32 years old he shouldn’t cost too much.

A rotation of Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer, Chris Bassitt, Taijuan Walker, and Carlos Carrasco could be as good as it gets. That unit should be able to just take the ball and give the Mets five-to-six solid innings each day.

With his six-pitch repertoire, Bassitt seems like the type of guy pitching coach Jeremy Hefner could work wonders with. I’m sure pitching alongside two of the best in the game would also help push anyone.

With that being said, even if they were to trade for Bassitt, the Mets should certainly still sign another arm in free agency.

As we saw last season, there’s no such thing as too much pitching. Adding a pair of arms like Bassitt and say Yusei Kikuchi or Matthew Boyd would not only raise the floor for this rotation but also increase their much-needed depth.

Team President Sandy Alderson definitely has a strong working relationship with the Athletics front office, and Bassitt is certainly a guy the Mets should be all over once the lockout is finally lifted.