New Chris Bassitt contract is fair for the team and player

Chris Bassitt and the New York Mets have a new deal in place. He’ll take home $8.65 million this year and has a mutual option available for 2023 which will pay him $19 million with a $150K buyout that probably won’t get used outside of some major change in the relationship or his performance.

Bassitt, 33, was set to hit free agency after this year. However, with a new opportunity to stay in New York, it looks like both sides are willing to make this relationship last at least another season.

Mets contract with Chris Bassitt is a fair deal for the team and player

Bassitt’s $19 million salary would rank in a tie as the 54th highest average this year right there with Chicago White Sox starter Lance Lynn. The one-year commitment to Bassitt beyond 2023 tells us the Mets are pleased with his early performance. How could they not be?

Through 8 starts, Bassitt is 4-2 with a 2.77 ERA. Right now, in the absence of Max Scherzer, he is easily their most trusted started taking the mound every fifth day.

It’s a no-brainer deal for Bassitt to sign. Coming into this season, he had taken in $8,765,000 in major league salaries. His deal with the Mets this year alone nearly matches it. Add in the handsome payday for next year and Bassitt can celebrate multi-millionaire status a little harder when the club returns home.

For the Mets, they have now locked up an opportunity to keep an important piece around for another year. Their starting rotation for 2023 was already looking like there could be some changes lying ahead. Aside from Jacob deGrom opting-out, the end of Taijuan Walker’s time in Flushing may end as well. He has a $6 million player option and a $3 million buyout for 2023.

The Mets are only scratching the surface as to what they have planned for next year’s rotation. They could potentially run it back with all five of the guys they had opened to begin this year with: deGrom, Scherzer, Bassitt, Walker, and Carlos Carrasco. This doesn’t even include Tylor Megill who may remain as an alternative option.

Whatever it is the Mets plan to do, this latest deal with Bassitt fits in with their winning mentality and desire to keep good players and people in the clubhouse. And because it is a mutual option for next year, both the team and player has an escape—just in case.