Well-respected Blue Jays veteran earns spot on MLBPA leadership committee

As we head into the Winter Meetings, the marquee event of the Major League Baseball offseason, and we're overwhelmed with rumors galore, it's easy to forget that there is other news happening in the baseball world. An interesting news item that came across the wire this week was from the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) and had nothing to do with free agents or trade rumors.

Veteran Toronto Blue Jays starter Chris Bassitt has been elected to the MLBPA Executive Subcommittee, the MLBPA announced on Wednesday. Well-regarded around the game, the 35-year-old right-hander joins the eight-member committee as an Association Player Representative.

Bassitt will take his role on the subcommittee along with other newcomers Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers, Jake Cronenworth of the San Diego Padres, Pete Fairbanks of the Tampa Bay Rays, Cedric Mullins of the Baltimore Orioles and Pittsburgh Pirates rookie sensation Paul Skenes.

Former Blue Jays second baseman Marcus Semien, now with the Texas Rangers, and Cincinnati Reds left-hander Brent Suter are the incumbent holdovers on the committee, which is elected by representatives of the 30 major league teams, per the MLBPA.

"The Executive Subcommittee members play a crucial role in representing the interests of all Players in the upcoming collective bargaining negotiations, union governance, and in shaping the future of the MLBPA," according to the MLBPA's press release.

The six new subcommittee members replace free agent Jack Flaherty, Ian Happ of the Chicago Cubs, Lucas Giolito of the Boston Red Sox, Francisco Lindor of the New York Mets, Lance McCullers Jr. of the Houston Astros and Austin Slater of the Chicago White Sox. Flaherty, Giolito and Happ had advocated for the removal of union deputy executive director Bruce Meyer this past March, according to David Brandt and Ronald Blum of the Associated Press.

Bassitt has spent the last two years of his 10-season MLB career with the Blue Jays after signing a three-year, $63M contract in December 2022. In 64 starts for Toronto, Bassitt is 26-22 with a 3.86 ERA. After being drafted by and making his MLB debut with the White Sox, he pitched six seasons for the Athletics and one season with the Mets before coming to the Jays.

Bassitt, an outspoken clubhouse leader, made headlines this past season on multiple occasions. He wasn't afraid to speak his mind as both he and the Blue Jays struggled through a tough 2024 campaign that saw them finish last in the NL East with a 74-88 record.