Memory of final starts as a Met lingers for Bassitt
Chris Bassitt still thinks about his final two starts for the Mets. And he probably always will.
Bassitt was the losing pitcher in the series finale when the Braves swept the Mets to gain late-season control of the National League East. He lost again when the Mets were eliminated by the Padres in the first round of the playoffs. He allowed seven earned runs over 6 2/₃ combined innings in those two games as the Mets’ bats simultaneously went quiet.
“I wish something else played out,” Bassitt told The Post on Friday night at Yankee Stadium, where he was back in town as a member of the Blue Jays. “I don’t care how I personally did, but I wish we won the games. Regret isn’t the right word. I don’t regret anything. There’s nothing I would change [preparation-wise]. Just the result, I wish, was different.”
The end of the season sullied an otherwise strong oneyear stint with the Mets. Acquired in a trade with the Athletics, Bassitt went 15-9 with a 3.42 ERA in 30 starts, shouldering the burden of long absences by aces Max Scherzer and Jacob deGrom.
“I loved my time here — loved the organization, all the coaches and my teammates,” Bassitt said. “We knew that was always a chance [to be one-anddone].”
Bassitt rejected his part of a $19 million mutual option and declined the qualifying offer (one-year, $19.65 million) to reach free agency. The Mets were interested in retaining Bassitt, but the buzz was that the 34-yearold right-hander was seeking a four- or five-year contract — longer than they were willing to commit.
“I don’t want to get into the details, but it just didn’t happen,” Bassitt said. “We had our talks ... until the very end ... and definitely there was mutual interest of trying to figure out a long-term deal. I have no animosity towards them. I think we left on good terms. And I’m happy as can be to be here.”
The Mets turned their focus to adding Justin Verlander and Jose Quintana (both of whom were injured during spring training and have yet to pitch) and Kodai Senga. Four-fifths of the Mets’ starting rotation is sidelined right now.
Why did Bassitt pick the Blue Jays?
“How good this team is,” Bassitt said, staying true to his message when he came from the Athletics to the Mets about only wanting to play for a contender at this stage. “This team has everything — pitching, bullpen, hitting. We have a real chance to do something special — obviously the Mets do, too. There’s a handful of really good teams, and I went from one to another.”
Bassitt scored a longer deal with a higher average annual salary (three years, $63 million) than the qualifying offer. He has a 5.40 ERA through four starts with the Blue Jays and will not pitch in this weekend series.
“I don’t ever want to be on a team that I don’t think can win a World Series,” Bassitt said. “I’m not saying I’m chasing a World Series, but at the same time I’ve played myself into the right of choosing that.”