Former Toronto pitcher Anthony Bass recently spoke out about his release from the Blue Jays last June and disagreed with the team’s assertion that it was a “baseball decision.” Bass reached out to the MLB Players Association after his release and expressed his concerns. Despite not being able to file a grievance due to his guaranteed salary, Bass believes there is a strong case to be made if this situation causes issues in the future.
Bass, currently a free agent, is training for a potential return to the big leagues in 2024 and has already received early interest. He believes he still has more to offer in his career. In response to his release, Bass made a public apology and met with Pride Toronto’s executive director to discuss potentially catching the ceremonial first pitch for Pride Weekend. However, plans changed when Bass was designated for assignment before the game.
Bass expressed his surprise at the news and felt that he was being let go because of his personal beliefs. He believes that his performance on the field was not the primary factor in the team’s decision. Bass had a successful 2022 season with the Blue Jays, recording a 1.80 ERA in the month of May.
The Blue Jays released Bass without providing an explanation, which he interpreted as a message in itself. Bass believes that the team’s actions were not solely based on baseball reasons, citing his strong performance in the previous season and the trade made to acquire him.
Despite the controversy, Bass had taken steps to address the situation, including meeting with Pride Toronto’s executive director and expressing that he was “in a better place.” However, he still stood by his personal beliefs and didn’t believe his initial post was hateful, although he acknowledged how others might view it that way.
The news of Bass’s release raised potential awkwardness for Pride Weekend, as he had initially planned to catch the ceremonial first pitch. However, the team decided to have another pitcher fulfill that role instead. Bass believes that the team initially agreed to his idea but later backpedaled.
Looking back on the situation, Bass shared that he has learned not to believe everything he reads and stated that he holds no hate in his heart towards any groups of people. He expressed pride in his faith and thanked those who supported him throughout his time with the Blue Jays.
The Blue Jays finished the season with an 89-73 record and made it to the postseason, but their journey ended with a sweep by the Minnesota Twins in the wild-card series. Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro was scheduled to hold an end-of-season media availability.
This report was originally published on October 11, 2023, by The Canadian Press.
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