Padres were right to avoid Chris Bassitt after the Orioles contract revealed more

When the Padres inked Michael King to a three-year, $75 million contract to keep him around long-term, it meant cutting ties with other players, as well as sacrificing the ability to go after big-name starting pitchers.

With little payroll to work with, A.J. Preller would need to rely on budget signings for the starting rotation in 2026. Aside from King’s big deal, the team would be paying Nick Pivetta $19 million, with Joe Musgrove getting $20 million. The big three were getting paid at the expense of being able to add at the back-end.

Padres avoided Chris Bassitt after Orioles contract clarified what it would’ve cost

Two spots needed to be filled, and it meant either sticking with what they already had (Randy Vasquez and JP Sears) or going out and getting a veteran for cheap. We linked former Blue Jays right-hander Chris Bassitt to the Padres, as he put up solid numbers in 2025 with a market value that wasn’t too expensive.

However, Bassitt ended up signing with the Baltimore Orioles, and details within his salary reveal why it was best for San Diego to stay away from him

Bassitt, 36, signed a deal that was only a single year in length, but was worth $18.5 million in value.

Don’t get us wrong, Bassitt was good this past season, posting a 3.96 ERA over the course of 170.1 innings is no easy feat at that age. But the hit on the payroll is just not worth it at all, especially when trying to field a competitive roster in what is going to be regroup year for the Padres.

With Bassitt off the board, the rotation as it stands will be Nick Pivetta, Michael King, Joe Musgrove, Randy Vasquez, and JP Sears, likely manning the five spot. But the Padres surely want to add one more arm before the start of the season.

Zac Gallen remains on the open market, which could be an intriguing option considering he has to take a short-term contract.