The San Diego Padres enter the offseason facing major questions in their rotation, especially with the departures of Dylan Cease and Michael King plus Yu Darvish’s season-long absence. San Diego needs a dependable starter who won’t command a massive contract, and that has led to speculation about the Padres pursuing a veteran who can stabilize the staff without straining the payroll.
The Toronto Blue Jays came just one game and one run shy of capturing the World Series this season, but now face the possibility of losing key contributors in free agency. Jim Bowden of The Athletic projected that Blue Jays starter Chris Bassitt could land a sizable $45 million contract this winter, a development that may complicate Toronto’s efforts to target bigger-name free agents. Andy McCullough of The Athletic also predicted that Bassitt would leave Toronto and sign with the San Diego Padres.
“Approaching his 37th birthday, Bassitt is finishing up a three-year, $63 million deal that went well for both him and the Toronto Blue Jays,” McCullough wrote. “He made at least 31 starts each season. He put up a 3.89 ERA. He morphed into an essential reliever for manager John Schneider during the World Series run. His presence could stabilize the San Diego rotation. Yu Darvish will miss the season. Joe Musgrove is coming back from Tommy John surgery. Michael King may sign elsewhere. Bassitt is a veteran you can trust.”
For San Diego, pursuing Bassitt fits their financial limitations. The Padres must replace arms like King and Cease but cannot realistically commit to a contract exceeding $150 million, which Cease is expected to command. Bassitt offers a practical alternative: an affordable, durable veteran capable of delivering steady innings. Few pitchers on the market provide the same reliability, making him an ideal match for the Padres’ immediate rotation needs.