For years, a certain stigma has hung over the Toronto Blue Jays. The gist is that playing for a Canadian team has too many complexities, from international travel to adjusting to a completely different lifestyle in a foreign country. It’s a narrative fed to the players, the fans, and even the front offices.
But what if that’s all smoke and mirrors? It’s 2025, and surely this old perception isn’t deterring people from joining in, right? Well, believe it or not, many players keep away from joining the Blue Jays just for fear of adjustment. So enter Justin Turner. He clarified to MLB Network last season that it’s all a myth.
The Blue Jays make the transition seamless to life in Canada. They not only take care of players but also support their families in ways very few teams do. Turner did change the perspective a little. Now yet again Chris Bassitt chimed in to break the stigma of tough life, painting a picture of Toronto being a destination and not a deterrent.
Talking to The JD Bunkins podcast, Chris Bassitt said, “Yeah, I think the whole Canada thing is just completely overblown now, um, and I think you have 29 other teams just trying to use it against Canada, and it’s just not the reality anymore. It may have been the reality 10, 15, or 20 years ago, but that’s just not the reality of the world anymore.” He dismissed it, talking about it like it was old news.
Bassitt even emphasized how players in Toronto Blue Jays are comfortable and that they are treated with royalty. Talking about his experience in Toronto: “I’m very, very happy with being in Toronto. I’m very, very happy with my family being in Toronto.” Then what about those tough environment rumors? He doesn’t buy into them. He mentioned that he happily told his friends in MLB to come to Toronto and help him win a championship. Well, major spoiler—he did pitch Max Scherzer!
Chris Bassitt’s key role in landing Scherzer
There is big news for the Blue Jays fans—Max Scherzer is coming to Toronto. The franchise announced that they signed the veteran pitcher to a one-year deal for $15.5 million. Well, he and Chris Bassitt go way back; they shared the mound when they were in the New York Mets in 2022. This dynamic duo combined for 40% of the team’s 101 wins that season. And now about the coming of Max Scherzer to Toronto, Bassitt didn’t shy away from admitting that he might have played a role.
On the JD Bunkis podcast, Bassitt revealed, “But I mean, the reality is, I and Max are good friends, and (I) put in a good word of just telling him how good Toronto is, so to speak.” However, he did mention that most of the credit lies with the front office, which got this deal to fruition. But he did put in a good word about how fantastic life in Toronto really is. He really does seem to be loving living in Canada!
But it wasn’t just the perks of Toronto that Bassitt talked about. He also praised Scherzer’s impact on and off the mound, “Max is one of the best pitchers of all time.” And it’s easy to understand why he feels so. His leadership along with experience is unmatched. Plus, Bassitt thinks that Scherzer’s knowledge of the game is simply out of this world and will be key for the pitching staff.
With Scherzer joining the Toronto Blue Jays, the season is looking more promising than ever. How do you think the team will do?
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