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| Photo: Instagram/Anthony Bass |
In the aftermath of a controversy surrounding his social media activity, Anthony Bass has been designated for assignment by the Toronto Blue Jays.
The decision means that Bass will be removed from both the team's active roster and the 40-man roster. Over the next week, he will either be traded to another team or placed on irrevocable outright waivers, effectively ending his tenure with the Blue Jays.
Originally, Bass was slated to participate in the ceremonial first pitch before the Blue Jays' game against the Minnesota Twins, coinciding with the start of their Pride Weekend festivities. However, the team ultimately reversed its course and decided to sever ties with the 35-year-old reliever.
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| Photo: Instagram/Anthony Bass |
In an apparent attempt to improve his public image prior to the Pride Weekend celebration, Bass had a meeting with Sherwin Modeste, the executive director of Pride Toronto, on Tuesday. Additionally, the plan for him to throw the first pitch was announced on Thursday afternoon.
However, during a media interview on the same day, Bass emphasized that his views on the content he shared had not fundamentally changed. His apology solely addressed the misuse of his platform as an athlete.
Unfortunately for Bass, this stance may not have been sufficient in the eyes of the Blue Jays. The timing of public statements made by General Manager Ross Atkins and Bass himself on Thursday possibly influenced the outcome of the situation, with Atkins potentially caught off guard by Bass's unwavering position.
While the Blue Jays deserve recognition for taking action against a player who expressed hateful views, their claim to the moral high ground is somewhat compromised by the fact that they retained Bass on their roster for several days after the controversial posts were made. These posts referred to initiatives supporting the 2SLGBTQ+ community by various companies as "evil" and "demonic."
During his press conference on Friday, Atkins emphasized that the decision to cut Bass was primarily motivated by the team's commitment to fielding the strongest possible roster, with concerns about his actions playing a secondary role.
Bass's departure comes amid a lackluster season on the field, marked by a 4.95 ERA in 20 innings pitched and a 0.0 fWAR, indicating performance on par with a player who could be signed for the minimum major-league salary. Taking Bass's spot on the Blue Jays' roster is Mitch White, who was initially vying for a spot in the team's starting rotation but encountered a shoulder injury during spring training.
The team has now decided to utilize him exclusively as a reliever for the remainder of the season. White has struggled in Triple-A, posting an 8.61 ERA across 23 innings in various roles as he works his way back from his shoulder ailment.
Read Next: Casper Ruud Dominates Zverev, Advances To Roland Garros Final Against Djokovic
Source: Yahoo Sports
However, during a media interview on the same day, Bass emphasized that his views on the content he shared had not fundamentally changed. His apology solely addressed the misuse of his platform as an athlete.
Unfortunately for Bass, this stance may not have been sufficient in the eyes of the Blue Jays. The timing of public statements made by General Manager Ross Atkins and Bass himself on Thursday possibly influenced the outcome of the situation, with Atkins potentially caught off guard by Bass's unwavering position.
While the Blue Jays deserve recognition for taking action against a player who expressed hateful views, their claim to the moral high ground is somewhat compromised by the fact that they retained Bass on their roster for several days after the controversial posts were made. These posts referred to initiatives supporting the 2SLGBTQ+ community by various companies as "evil" and "demonic."
During his press conference on Friday, Atkins emphasized that the decision to cut Bass was primarily motivated by the team's commitment to fielding the strongest possible roster, with concerns about his actions playing a secondary role.
Bass's departure comes amid a lackluster season on the field, marked by a 4.95 ERA in 20 innings pitched and a 0.0 fWAR, indicating performance on par with a player who could be signed for the minimum major-league salary. Taking Bass's spot on the Blue Jays' roster is Mitch White, who was initially vying for a spot in the team's starting rotation but encountered a shoulder injury during spring training.
The team has now decided to utilize him exclusively as a reliever for the remainder of the season. White has struggled in Triple-A, posting an 8.61 ERA across 23 innings in various roles as he works his way back from his shoulder ailment.
Read Next: Casper Ruud Dominates Zverev, Advances To Roland Garros Final Against Djokovic
Source: Yahoo Sports
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