The Orioles aren’t just dipping a toe into the win-now waters - they’re diving in headfirst. And if you needed any more proof, look no further than Chris Bassitt’s decision to sign with Baltimore. The veteran right-hander made it clear: this is a team that’s serious about contending, and he wanted in.
Bassitt, 36, inked a one-year deal with the O’s earlier this week after a strong 2025 campaign that saw him throw 170.1 innings and help lead the Blue Jays to the World Series. But this move wasn’t just about money or innings.
It was about momentum. About buying into a vision.
And for Bassitt, that vision came into focus the moment Baltimore landed Pete Alonso.
Speaking from Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota on the first official day of media availability at Spring Training, Bassitt didn’t mince words. He pointed to the Alonso signing as a major factor in his decision.
That kind of move - bold, aggressive, unmistakably win-now - signaled to him that the Orioles weren’t just looking to compete. They were aiming to finish the job.
But it wasn’t just the star power that sold him. Bassitt also praised the Orioles’ front office for their transparency.
According to the veteran, Baltimore reached out early in the offseason and was upfront about their pitching priorities - even telling him that a couple of other starters were initially higher on their list. That kind of honesty?
It resonates with a guy who’s been around the league and knows what it takes to win.
Bassitt didn’t take it as a slight. Quite the opposite.
He saw it as a sign of professionalism and direction - a front office that knows what it wants and isn’t afraid to be candid. In a league where smoke and mirrors are sometimes part of the recruiting pitch, that kind of clarity can go a long way.
And it’s not hard to see why Bassitt believes in this group. Alonso’s arrival earlier this winter was one of the biggest splashes the franchise has made in years - a statement of intent from a team that’s no longer content to build for tomorrow. For a pitcher fresh off a World Series appearance and hungry for another shot at the title, that matters.
Now, Bassitt joins a revamped rotation that includes Shane Baz, Trevor Rogers, Zach Eflin, and Kyle Bradish. It’s a group with upside and experience, and Bassitt brings both in spades. He’s one of just seven pitchers in the league to make at least 30 starts in each of the last four seasons, and his 1.04 ERA during Toronto’s 2025 World Series run is a reminder of what he can do when the lights are brightest.
This isn’t the same Orioles team we’ve seen in recent years. The culture is changing.
The expectations are rising. And when a veteran like Bassitt chooses Baltimore not just for the opportunity, but because he sees a real shot at the World Series - that tells you everything you need to know.
The Orioles are no longer a team on the rise. They’re a team that’s arrived.