Chris Bassitt

Bassitt began the season on the IL with a lower leg injury, returning in mid-April to replace the injured Marco Estrada in Oakland's rotation. He made 25 starts before moving to the bullpen in September, going 10-5 with a serviceable 3.95 ERA and 1.22 WHIP in those outings (139 innings). Bassitt enjoyed a slight velocity bump -- his average fastball clocked in at 93.5 mph after sitting around 92 mph in 2018 -- which resulted in a career-best 8.8 K/9. His flyball tendencies led to a 1.3 HR/9, though the juiced ball likely played a factor, as he typically did well to limit hard contact. While Bassitt could push for a rotation spot in 2020, the A's have plenty of starting pitching depth, so there's a chance he opens the season in a long-relief role. The right-hander flashed his potential in such a role down the stretch, striking out nine batters across three scoreless appearances spanning five innings.

Bassitt didn't appear in the majors at all in 2017, spending the second half on the farm recapturing velocity after Tommy John surgery the previous year. In 2018, Bassitt racked up a ton of frequent flyer mileage, making the 2300-mile trip between Oakland and Triple-A Nashville seven times. The righty appeared in 11 games for the Athletics, starting seven. He posted a career-best 20.1 K%, a rate still below league average. Bassitt features a 92-mph sinking fastball, mixing in a slider, change and curve. The curve generates a solid 15.0 SwStr% but he only throws it 13% of the time. Bassitt will be in the mix for a rotation spot coming out of the spring, though he may end up in a swingman role. His low strikeout rate tempers mixed-league value, but if he's starting, Bassitt can be useful in deeper formats, especially if you can reserve him for tough road affairs.

Bassitt rode a strong showing in 2015 into the 2016 campaign, where he was given the chance to be a full-time member of the big league rotation. Things started off well enough, as he held a 2.79 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP through three starts. However, the wheels came off in the ensuing two starts, as the right-hander proceeded to allow 13 runs (all earned) on 19 hits (including three home runs) over that span. His season took an even bigger turn for the worse after his final April start, as it was discovered that he had injured his elbow severely enough to require Tommy John surgery. With that procedure taking place in May, Bassitt will likely be out of contention for a rotation spot at least until the second half of the 2017 season. Getting back into the rotation could be a tall task now that higher-upside arms like Sean Manaea and Jharel Cotton are stepping into the rotation, and with Frankie Montas knocking at the door as well.

Injuries opened the door for Bassitt to join the A's, and he ended up being an effective member of the rotation over the final three months, compiling a 3.58 ERA in 75.1 innings (13 starts). Bassitt was the victim of some brutal run support, amassing only one solitary win even though he had eight starts in which he allowed two runs or fewer. He does not project to be a big strikeout pitcher with only a 6.6 K/9 through his first 115.2 major league innings, but more strikeouts could be coming as he had a 8.7 K/9 rate during his career in the minor leagues. Bassitt's solid performance puts him in the mix for a rotation spot to start 2016, but his chances at that role will depend on how many of the A's healthy pitchers are traded, and how many of their injured arms are ready to go to start the year.

Bassitt shot up the organizational depth chart after leading the White Sox's minor leaguers with 101 strikeouts in 2013. He suffered a broken hand in a non-baseball related injury to start the year, but continued to develop unencumbered once he returned to health. Bassitt made a few late-season starts in the big leagues, but his lack of a third pitch resulted in unimpressive strikeout and walk ratios. The White Sox sent him to the Arizona Fall League to make up some innings, where he struck out 22 in 13 relief innings. The A's acquired him as part of the blockbuster trade that sent Jeff Samardzija to the White Sox in December. Bassitt will likely compete for a rotation spot during spring training, while it's uncertain if he'll simply move to the bullpen or remain stretched out at Triple-A if he doesn't begin the season as a starter with the A's.