Bass was released by the Blue Jays on Thursday, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Bass was designated for assignment Friday and will now become a free agent. He struggled to a 4.95 ERA and 1.40 WHIP across 20 innings before losing his roster spot, but he had proven to be a reliable setup man in the prior seasons. As a result, he may get a chance to latch on with another bullpen around the league.
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Blue Jays' Anthony Bass: Designated for assignment
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Bass was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays on Friday.
Bass has put up a 4.95 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 19:9 K:BB over 20 relief innings with the Jays this season. He also was recently reprimanded, although not suspended, after sharing an anti-LGBTQIA+ video on social media. Bass will now go through the waiver process.
Bass has posted a 7:1 K:BB through six Grapefruit League innings this spring.
The veteran right-hander split 2022 between the Marlins and Blue Jays and had a sub-2.00 ERA at each stop, wrapping up his campaign with a 1.54 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and career highs in wins (four) and holds (23). Bass figured to be one of the primary high-leverage options in the Toronto bullpen this season, and his spring performance suggests he's ready for Opening Day.
Blue Jays' Anthony Bass: Toronto picking up option
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The Blue Jays will exercise Bass' $3 million club option for 2023 on Tuesday, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
The veteran right-hander was acquired from the Marlins at the trade deadline and will stick with the Blue Jays in 2023. Bass finished the year with a 1.54 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 73:20 K:BB across 70.1 innings, and he should fill a high-leverage role again for Toronto next year.
Blue Jays' Anthony Bass: Packaged to Toronto in deal
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The Blue Jays acquired Bass and right-hander Zach Pop from the Marlins on Tuesday in exchange for infielder Jordan Groshans, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Bass arrives in Toronto in the midst of an exceptional 20-appearance run in which he submitted an 0.46 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and 21:4 K:BB in 19.2 innings while gathering six holds. Though he won't be a threat to Jordan Romano's role as the Blue Jays' closer, Bass should provide an upgrade over the team's existing setup options. He'll also be more than a rental piece for the Blue Jays, as his contract contains an affordable $3 million team option for 2023.
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Marlins' Anthony Bass: Blows save, picks up win
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Bass (2-3) blew the save, but picked up the win anyway in Sunday's 6-5 victory over Pittsburgh, allowing two runs on two hits while striking out three and walking none over one inning.
Bass entered the game in the ninth with a 4-2 lead, but allowed a two-run single to Yoshi Tsutsugo that tied the game. Thankfully for Bass, his offense took the lead again in the 10th inning, which gave him the blown save but also the win. Bass has seen three save chances this season, all of which have resulted in blown saves, but he continues to be a reliable arm in lower leverage situations (15 holds). He will take a 1.51 ERA into his next appearance.
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Marlins' Anthony Bass: Notches 14th hold
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Bass struck out two in a perfect seventh inning Friday to record his 14th hold of the season in a win over the Mets.
The right-hander reeled off his 11th straight scoreless appearance in impressive fashion. Bass might be Miami's most reliable reliever at the moment, posting a 0.54 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 13:2 K:BB through 16.2 innings since the beginning of June, but he hasn't had a save since 2020 and manager Don Mattingly seems more comfortable using the 34-year-old in a setup role.
Bass struck out two over 1.2 perfect innings Sunday to record his seventh hold of the season in a loss to the Padres.
Marlins manager Don Mattingly elected to use current closer Anthony Bender in the sixth inning to protect a 2-0 lead, and after he got the job done, Bass entered the game to shepherd the lead into the eighth. Unfortunately for Miami, Cole Sulser wound up blowing the save in the ninth. Bass is among the MLB leaders in holds so far, sitting two back of Devin Williams, and he's been scored upon in only two of his 14 appearances to begin the season, leaving the 34-year-old journeyman with a 1.23 ERA, 0.68 WHIP and 16:3 K:BB through 14.2 innings.
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Marlins' Anthony Bass: Takes loss Friday
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Bass (0-1) gave up a run on a hit and a walk in two-thirds of an inning to take the loss Friday against the Giants.
Anthony Bender blew the save in the ninth inning, but Bass fared no better in the 10th, allowing the winning run to cross the plate on an Austin Slater walkoff double. Bass is in the late-inning mix for the Marlins, but after going 0-for-4 on save chances in 2021, he remains a risky play for anyone looking for help in that category.
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Marlins' Anthony Bass: Could see early save chances
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Bass is an option to close for the Marlins at the beginning of the season with Dylan Floro delayed by a hip issue, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
Floro was expected to be the ninth-inning man for Miami to begin the season, but he has yet to appear in a Grapefruit League game while dealing with hip soreness. Of the remaining options for saves, Bass has the most experience, recording 12 saves for the Mariners and Blue Jays between 2019 and 2020, but Anthony Bender is viewed as having the best stuff, while Richard Bleier could also see work against left-handers at the end of games. "I think we're going to be more of a mix-and-match club," manager Don Mattingly said Friday. "We're not sitting here with Mariano [Rivera] or Kenley [Jansen] or these dudes that you say, 'This is my ninth-inning guy, he gets the ball every time.' That might develop like that, but right now, I don't think we're there." While Mattingly may talk in terms of a committee, his track record suggests he much prefers having one set closer, so if Bass or Bender have a quick start to the season in the role, they may well end up keeping it for awhile.
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Marlins' Anthony Bass: Charged with loss Sunday
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Bass (1-6) allowed two runs (one earned) on one hit and struck out the only batter he retired as he took the loss versus the Yankees on Sunday.
The right-hander allowed two of the three batters he faced in the eighth inning to get on base, and Richard Bleier proceeded to allow both inherited runners to score. The loss was Bass's first since July 9, when he worked as an opener. The 33-year-old hadn't given up a run in 6.1 innings since that appearance prior to Sunday. He has a 3.79 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 38:17 K:BB with 12 holds and four blown saves in 47 appearances, but he could be in the mix for saves after Yimi Garcia was traded to Houston.
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Marlins' Anthony Bass: Takes loss as opener
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Bass (1-5) took the loss Friday, giving up one run on one hit while striking out two in the first inning as the Marlins were downed 5-0 by Atlanta.
Making his first career appearance as an opener, the right-hander served up a solo shot to Freddie Freeman, and a slumbering Miami offense never climbed out of that early hole. Bass continues to struggle with consistency, getting tagged for runs in four of his last 10 games, and he sports a 4.28 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 31:15 K:BB through 33.2 innings on the year as he falls further out of the high-leverage mix for the Marlins.
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Marlins' Anthony Bass: Starting bullpen game
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Bass will start Friday's game versus Atlanta, Craig Mish of SportsGrid.com reports.
The right-hander will start Friday's contest as manager Don Mattingly employs a bullpen game after starter Zach Thompson (illness) was scratched. Bass won't provide much length given he hasn't pitched more than one inning during any appearance this season. He has a 4.13 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 29:15 K:BB across 32.2 frames.
