The Toronto Blue Jays have decided that they could no longer afford to keep Anthony Bass on their roster. The team announced on Friday they had designated the controversial pitcher for assignment.
ROSTER MOVES:
🔹 RHP Mitch White has been reinstated from the 60-day IL and will be active for tonight’s game
🔹 RHP Anthony Bass has been designated for assignment pic.twitter.com/O36mqtPENc
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) June 9, 2023
The decision to move on from Bass could certainly have been performance-based. The Blue Jays pitcher had pitched to an ERA of nearly 5 this season. But Bass hadn’t pitched in nearly three days.
So, it could point to the fact that he completely backtracked from an apology he made just last week. Bass was in hot water after sharing a distasteful and hurtful post about the LGBTQIA+ community. He shared a post on his Instagram story that led to a serious backlash.
As per a Sportsnet writeup, “Bass shared a post on his Instagram stories Monday urging others to spurn the American companies over support for they showed for the 2SLGBTQ+ community.” The posts highlighted recent Conservative boycotts of Bud Light and Target. Conservatives have taken issue with the companies, but the boycotts have been skewered with opponents calling them bigoted, homophobic, and transphobic.
While Bass later apologized (following criticism from team figures), he said Thursday he doesn’t believe the anti-LGBTQIA+ post that he shared was hateful. As per ESPN, Bass said he was “working hard” to educate himself, which included meeting with the executive director of the Pride Toronto group.
For whatever reason, Bass was scheduled to catch the ceremonial first pitch from Toronto LGBTQIA+ activist Lezlie Lee Kam prior to Friday’s game. Now that Bass has been designated for assignment, that will no longer be taking place. And that may be why it happened on Friday.
In any event, those in the world of Major League Baseball were not exactly upset with the Blue Jays’ decision to kick Bass to the curb.
Oh, I feel so sorry for Bass…. #notreallly https://t.co/OaPrHXW4tJ
— Ken Fang — Very Asian (@fangsbites) June 9, 2023
soooo…who is catching first pitch on pride night? https://t.co/4PEGMIXVy9
— Bradford William Davis (@BWDBWDBWD) June 9, 2023
happy pride month https://t.co/icPyHQhUuB pic.twitter.com/b4RkMwh5yJ
— Brian Floyd (@BrianMFloyd) June 9, 2023
Bass doubled down on his position and now he is position-less. And will remain so. #waittosee https://t.co/Vb3XGTPHOX
— David P. Samson (@DavidPSamson) June 9, 2023
https://twitter.com/bruce_arthur/status/1667219431150460929?s=20
It took some effort, but Anthony Bass finally managed to talk his way into a DFA. https://t.co/LG7hTD9N5h
— Tao of Stieb (@TaoofStieb) June 9, 2023
Mitch White, it should be said, is an absolutely lovely young man. #Bluejays https://t.co/8XH0uIsvSs
— Mike Wilner (@Wilnerness) June 9, 2023
Well, there's a notable roster move! https://t.co/809gQPIdLA
— Andrew Bucholtz (@AndrewBucholtz) June 9, 2023
Can you still catch the first pitch when that happens? https://t.co/IITeIm08gP
— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) June 9, 2023
And let’s not give the Blue Jays credit for dumping a journeyman pitcher after shielding him from the press.
