MESA, Ariz. -- To some, Chris Bassitt is projected as the “sixth man” in the A’s rotation.
But there’s no question he’s going to get plenty of opportunities to start games in 2020 and will be a pivotal piece of what is anticipated to be Oakland’s top pitching staff in years, if not decades.
Bassitt actually is one of the longest-tenured players on the roster, coming over from the Chicago White Sox in the same deal that brought shortstop Marcus Semien in 2015. He missed all of 2017 after undergoing Tommy John surgery a year prior, returning to action and 2018 and becoming a fixture on the A's staff last season.