Anthony Bass

Bass began 2021 as Miami's closer but lost the job amid a slow start that saw him post a 7.84 ERA through May 4. He improved the rest of the season with a 3.00 ERA and 50:20 K:BB ratio in 50 innings. He was expected to return to a setup role, but Dylan Floro's questionable health in spring training could give him another shot to close games. Bass has the most experience among the setup corps, 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.

Bass began the year as the Blue Jays' de facto closer while Ken Giles was sidelined. He held the job for a few weeks before Toronto turned to more of a committee approach. For the season, Bass reeled in seven saves, three holds and two wins. He outpitched his peripherals for the second straight season, relying on a high 62.3% groundball rate to overcome a pedestrian 21.0% strikeout clip. Despite lacking dominant stuff, Bass has proven effective in a late-inning capacity, and he appears set to compete for closing duties after signing a two-year deal with the Marlins (with a team option for 2023). Yimi Garcia is probably the more exciting arm, and without saves, Bass would be relegated to NL-only consideration. Even there it's borderline as to whether Bass will compile enough innings to overcome a low strikeout rate.

Following his release from Cincinnatti, Bass was hooked by Seattle in May and by early August had ascended to a shared spot as the team's closer. He enjoyed mild success in that role, converting four of five save chances and posting a 3.86 ERA in 18.2 innings after Aug. 7. The right-hander relies primarily on sinkers and sliders, both of which have gained velocity as Bass has aged, with his sinker clocking in at over 95 mph in 2019. While Bass throws both pitches hard, he doesn't generate much spin and thus isn't much of a strikeout pitcher -- his mediocre 22.8 K% last season was the best of his career. Bass did an adequate job of inducing groundballs (51.6 GB%), but with limited punchout potential and a narrow scope of big-league success, he doesn't figure to get another chance at closing. He'll likely fill a lower-leverage role next season with Toronto, who claimed Bass off waivers in late October.

Bass was called upon to make 33 relief appearances out of the Texas bullpen when the Rangers found themselves fishing for a long-relief option in 2015. He struck out just 45 batters while issuing 20 free passes in 64 largely forgettable innings, with a low flyball rate (28.2%) being his saving grace. Bass has not made a start in the majors since 2012, and was released by the Mariners to pursue a contract in Japan, meaning he can be ignored in all formats in 2016.

Acquired by the Astros via trade in December of 2013, Bass made a strong first impression on the team, recording two spring saves while striking out 14 over 11 innings to lock up a bullpen spot out of camp. The 27-year-old went on to earn two saves in April when the Astros used a committee in closing scenarios, but an intercostal strain in May sidelined him for the next month and a half. Upon his return from injury, the right-hander allowed 11 runs in six long-relief appearances before he was demoted to Triple-A Oklahoma City, where he spent the remainder of the year. Bass, who has posted a 5.74 ERA with 10 home runs allowed and a woeful 38:27 K:BB ratio in 69 innings over the past two seasons, will likely serve as pitching depth in the minors after signing a minor league deal with Texas in December.

After landing a spot on the Padres' Opening Day roster as a long man out of the bullpen, Bass was fairly steady through mid-May, posting a 2.60 ERA and 19:9 K:BB ratio across 27.2 innings and 15 appearances. However, he was shelled in two of the next three outings, prompting a demotion to Triple-A Tucson, where he resided for majority of the season. Although he concluded the year with a woeful 31:20 K:BB ratio, some silver linings remain due to a 6.6 K/9 and 0.9 HR/9. The Astros acquired Bass in December, which should give him an opportunity to compete for a rotation spot in spring training.

The Padres moved Bass into the rotation for the first half of the 2012 season, and it proved to be a poor decision on their part as he produced a 5.08 ERA over 83.1 innings before hitting the DL with right shoulder inflammation in June. When he was able to come back in September, the team backed off his workload and allowed him to work out of the bullpen, which produced a 2.63 ERA, albeit in a small sample size (13.2 innings). Bass was a starter during his time in the minors and the team will naturally want to push him to start again in the spring, but don't be surprised if the results are less than optimal. He simply does not miss enough bats or have the elite control needed to get by at this point in his career, and he's likely ticketed for a relief role if he fails to impress as a rotation option.

Bass showed enough promise early on in the minors that, after posting an 8.01 K/9IP with a 2.95 K/BB ratio in nearly 70 innings at Double-A last season, the Padres brought him up to make a spot start in mid-June. Although he was sent back down immediately thereafter, he pitched well enough for the team to bring him back and make him a permanent fixture in its bullpen just two weeks later. He amassed a 1.88 ERA and 20 strikeouts over the next 33 innings, got a pair of starts late in September and continued to prove that he belonged at the big league level. He should continue his relief role in 2012 and will be in line for a few spot starts when needed.