Blue Jays' Kevin Gausman reflects on close friend Chris Bassitt's departure, clubhouse culture he left behind

Toronto Blue Jays ace Kevin Gausman didn’t just lose a teammate when Chris Bassitt signed elsewhere — he lost one of the clubhouse’s most influential voices.

Speaking with Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi, Gausman opened up about Bassitt’s departure and the impact the veteran right-hander had during his three seasons in Toronto.

Up until midweek, Gausman was still holding onto hope that Bassitt might return.

That changed when a text message arrived from his close friend confirming he had agreed to a one-year, $18.5 million deal with the Baltimore Orioles.

“I’ll be honest, it wasn’t really up to him — he wanted to come back,” Gausman told Davidi. “But we added some other guys. I don’t know how close it ever got. Obviously, I wish him the best. What a character.”

Bassitt’s contract became official Friday, closing the book on a productive run north of the border.

Over three seasons with Toronto, he threw 541.1 innings across 96 appearances — all but one of them starts — and added 8.2 strong innings out of the bullpen during last fall’s postseason, surrendering just one run.

Bassitt, who turns 37 on Feb. 22, played a major role in shaping the culture inside the Blue Jays’ clubhouse.

According to Gausman, his presence was both constant and intentional.

“He built relationships with everyone,” Gausman explained. “His locker was right in the middle of the room — you couldn’t miss him. He’s an open book. When we brought in Shane (Bieber), they put him right next to Bass for a reason.”
Gausman emphasized that what the club will miss most is Bassitt’s professionalism. Every fifth day, he approached his starts with unwavering preparation and intensity — yet balanced that competitiveness with a relaxed demeanor.

“He’s a true competitor,” Gausman said. “He wants to get better and help everyone else get better.”

Bassitt also helped prevent division within the clubhouse. Last season, he played a role in reorganizing the locker setup to ensure pitchers and position players remained integrated, reinforcing a unified team environment.

While the Blue Jays will miss Bassitt, they’re less thrilled about where he landed.

Bassitt joins an Orioles team that has aggressively reshaped its roster, adding Pete Alonso, Ryan Helsley, Taylor Ward and Shane Baz as it looks to contend in the American League East.

For Gausman, the toughest part may be seeing his friend so often. “I’d prefer not to see him 12 times a year,” he admitted to Davidi.

The two grew especially close in Toronto, bonding not just over baseball but over fatherhood and family life.

“We can relate on a lot of things,” Gausman told Davidi. “I was there when he had his second child. That adds another layer to a friendship.”

Despite the rivalry, Gausman expects Bassitt to thrive — even against Toronto.

“He knows these hitters really well,” he said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he pitches great against us. I hope we win, but I’m always going to root for him. Maybe just not until later in the game.”

The Blue Jays and Orioles are scheduled to meet 13 times during the 2026 regular season, plus two more matchups in Spring Training.

If the schedule holds, there’s a strong chance the two former teammates will find themselves dueling on opposite sides more than once — adding another compelling storyline to an already heated division race.

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