"When approaching the twilight of their MLB career, players could often find it hard to land that one final contract leading up to their eventual retirement. Even for proven players that had previously been stars during their prime, they could have enough of a regression such that they would be forced to hang up their cleats earlier than expected. As a result, may players may look for ways to ensure that they can still provide value at the MLB level no matter what the age."
"For someone that had been a starter for the bulk of his MLB career, that was quite the adjustment in accepting a bullpen role for the Blue Jays after coming off his injury towards the end of the regular season. Not only has he embraced the role, Bassitt has been practically lights out for Toronto in shutting down the opposition."
Many aging MLB players struggle to secure a final contract as skills regress late in their careers. Chris Bassitt transitioned from starter to high-leverage reliever for the Toronto Blue Jays during the 2025 postseason. In five relief appearances he allowed zero runs, one hit, one walk and recorded eight strikeouts across 6.2 innings. He also pitched on consecutive days without performance decline after returning from injury late in the regular season. Bassitt's demonstrated ability to start and to shutdown opponents in relief expands his value. Teams evaluating free agents will view his dual-role success as an appealing asset.
Read at Jays Journal
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