It is rare to see a guy go from a 1.54 ERA to effectively being out of the league in under a year. Usually, that kind of drop-off involves a catastrophic Tommy John surgery or a sudden loss of velocity. But for Anthony Bass, the end of his time in Major League Baseball wasn't just about his sinker losing its bite.
He was a journeyman. A "pitcher for hire." Over twelve seasons, Bass wore the jerseys of seven different MLB teams. He even did a stint in Japan. For a long time, he was the guy you brought in when your starter faltered in the fifth or when you needed a reliable seventh-inning bridge. He was steady. Quiet.
Then came 2023.
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Most people remember the headlines, but the nuance of how Anthony Bass went from a high-leverage arm for the Toronto Blue Jays to a released free agent is a lot more complicated than a single social media post. It was a collision of performance, optics, and timing that basically made him radioactive to front offices.
The Long Road from Wayne State
Anthony Bass didn't come from a big-name baseball school. He played at Wayne State University in Detroit. It’s a Division II program. To get drafted in the fifth round out of a D-II school, you have to be doing something right. The San Diego Padres saw a kid with a 92-mph heater and a competitive streak. They took him in 2008.
His debut in 2011 was solid. He beat the Rockies, throwing five innings of one-run ball. Back then, the Padres tried him as a starter. It didn't quite stick. His stuff played better in short bursts.
By the time he reached the Houston Astros in 2014, he was transitioning into a full-time reliever. He struggled there. Then he went to Texas. Then he went to Japan to play for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in 2016. Honestly, that Japan trip saved his career. He won three games in the Japan Series. He found his rhythm.
When he came back to the States, he was a different pitcher. Between 2018 and 2022, he posted some legitimate numbers. We're talking about a guy who had a 2.64 ERA for the Cubs in 2018 and a 3.56 for the Mariners in 2019. He was finally finding his groove as a late-inning weapon.
The 2022 Peak
Before everything went sideways, Anthony Bass was actually one of the best relievers in baseball. Seriously. In 2022, split between the Miami Marlins and his second stint with the Blue Jays, he was untouchable.
- ERA: 1.54 (7th best among relievers).
- Appearances: 73 (5th most in MLB).
- Scoreless outings: 60.
He was the setup man every contender wanted. The Blue Jays liked him enough to pick up his $3 million option for 2023. At age 35, he was set for a massive payday if he could just keep the ball in the park for one more year.
The 2023 Season: A Rapid Decline
Baseball is a "what have you done for me lately" business. In April and May of 2023, Bass wasn't the same guy who dominated in 2022. His ERA was ballooning toward 5.00. His slider wasn't sliding.
Then, on May 29, 2023, everything changed.
Bass shared a video on his Instagram story that called for boycotts of Target and Bud Light over their LGBTQ+ pride campaigns. The video referred to the campaigns as "evil" and "demonic." In a city like Toronto—which prides itself on being one of the most inclusive places in the world—this was like throwing a match into a powder keg.
The backlash was instant.
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He issued a 33-second apology the next day. It felt scripted. Fans didn't buy it. The Blue Jays' front office, led by Ross Atkins, tried to navigate it as a "learning moment." They even planned to have him catch the ceremonial first pitch for Pride Weekend.
The Breaking Point
The real end came when Bass spoke to the media again on June 8. Instead of doubling down on his apology, he told reporters he "stood by his personal beliefs." He said he didn't think the video was hateful.
That was the nail in the coffin.
The very next day—the day Pride Weekend started in Toronto—the Blue Jays designated him for assignment. They didn't even wait for the game to start. They essentially paid him millions of dollars just to go away.
Atkins later admitted that while performance was a factor, the "distraction" had become too much. In the locker room, chemistry is everything. If the guys behind you on the field are uncomfortable, you can't win.
Why No One Signed Anthony Bass After 2023
You might wonder why some other team didn't take a chance on him. Teams overlook a lot for talent. If a guy throws 102 mph, he gets ten chances.
But Bass was a 35-year-old middle reliever with a 4.95 ERA who had just alienated a massive segment of the fanbase. For a GM, the math didn't add up.
- Low Ceiling: He wasn't a closer anymore.
- High Noise: The media circus would follow him to any city.
- The Locker Room: Baseball is a global game with diverse rosters. If you're viewed as someone who creates friction, you're a liability.
He cleared waivers. No one claimed him. He became a free agent, and the phone stopped ringing.
The "Popcorn" Incident
It's funny how small things add up. Just months before the Instagram controversy, Bass made headlines for a different reason. He complained on Twitter about United Airlines making his pregnant wife clean up popcorn their kids spilled on the plane.
It seemed petty to fans. It painted a picture of someone who felt entitled. When the larger controversy hit, there was already a sense of "this guy again?" among the public. It's a lesson in brand management: if you're going to be a "distraction," you better be an All-Star.
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What Most People Get Wrong
A lot of the discourse around Anthony Bass centers on "cancel culture." But if you look at the stats, it’s just as much about "decline culture."
If Bass had a 1.20 ERA and was striking out the side, he probably would have stayed on the roster, albeit with a heavy fine or a suspension. The Blue Jays were a team with playoff aspirations. They couldn't afford a mediocre pitcher who was also a PR nightmare.
His sinker velocity was still there—averaging around 95 mph—but his splitter was getting crushed. Hitters were batting nearly .300 against him in high-leverage spots. When the value on the field disappears, the tolerance for off-field headache disappears too.
The Legacy of a Journeyman
Anthony Bass finished his MLB career with a 3.91 ERA and 16 wins. Those aren't Hall of Fame numbers, but they represent over a decade of surviving in the hardest league in the world.
He was a grinder. He was a guy who survived being DFA'd multiple times earlier in his career. He reinvented himself in Japan. He came back and became an elite reliever at age 34. That part of his story is actually pretty impressive from a pure athletic standpoint.
But his career serves as a stark reminder of how quickly the window closes in professional sports. In the modern era, being a "good teammate" and "low maintenance" is a job requirement.
Actionable Insights for Players and Fans
- Social Media is a Work Tool: For pro athletes, platforms are no longer "personal." Everything is a reflection of the employer.
- Performance buys Patience: The "leash" for a player's behavior is directly tied to their WAR (Wins Above Replacement).
- The Value of the Bridge: Relievers like Bass show how volatile the position is; one year you're elite, the next you're out of a job.
- Reputation is Cumulative: Small incidents (like the popcorn tweet) create a "character profile" that teams use when deciding whether to stick by a player during a crisis.
Today, Bass remains away from the game. He hasn't pitched in the majors since June 5, 2023. For a guy who spent his whole life fighting to stay on a roster, it was a quiet, abrupt ending to a very loud final chapter.