The St. Louis Cardinals head into the 2025 offseason facing an array of uncertainties. What direction will Chaim Bloom choose as the new president of baseball operations? How much freedom will he have to spend on the open market? And what kind of return might the club receive if they move forward with potential trades involving Nolan Arenado or Sonny Gray?
Those are all fair concerns, but an even more pressing issue looms over the coming season. How will St. Louis upgrade its starting rotation? Although many fans hope the organization makes a push for high-end arms such as Dylan Cease, Zac Gallen, or Michael King, a more realistic and affordable approach may involve targeting a mid-tier pitcher. One name projected to fit that category is veteran right-hander Chris Bassitt, recently with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Reasons to consider Chris Bassitt
Bassitt has put together a reliable career across 11 major league seasons and four organizations. While another older starter—he will be 37 by Opening Day—may not be the ideal scenario for fans, he carries real value as a dependable innings eater, especially for a club that appears a distance away from serious contention. Throughout his 11 seasons, Bassitt has been remarkably consistent. He has finished in the top 10 of Cy Young voting three times and has had an ERA above 4.00 in only two years, one of which came during a season in which he made just six starts.
During his past three seasons with Toronto, Bassitt continued to perform well, posting a 37–31 record, a 3.89 ERA, 541 and one-third innings, and 520 strikeouts. His 2023 campaign included an American League–leading 16 wins. His 46.1 percent ground ball rate also landed in the 70th percentile, aligning nicely with the strengths of the Cardinals’ infield defense. “C Bass” has shown he can be an asset in October too. This postseason, after shifting to a bullpen role, he worked seven games and gave up only three hits and one run over eight and two-thirds innings, good for a 1.04 ERA. He also struck out 10 hitters.
Looking across various free agent projections, most estimates place Bassitt’s annual salary between 17 million and 19 million dollars. Even if that figure seems a little steep, it is worth noting that the Cardinals paid Miles Mikolas 17.6 million dollars last year, and that money comes off the books after 2025. With uncertainty surrounding a potential Sonny Gray deal and the possibility that Andre Pallante could exit the rotation, Bassitt stands out as a practical short-term rotation addition as the team approaches the 2026 season.