Why the Blue Jays Cut Anthony Bass Might Surprise You - GM Ross Atkins Reveals All
Blue Jays General Manager Ross Atkins responds to the decision to cut player Anthony Bass following his controversial anti-LGBTQ post on Instagram, citing multiple factors that contributed to the team's decision
Anthony Bass. CJ GUNTHER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
"We strive to build the strongest team possible and consider various factors when making decisions. Unfortunately, Anthony Bass' recent anti-LGBTQ post caused a distraction in our clubhouse, and we made the decision to release him. Our focus remains on creating a positive and inclusive environment for all members of our team."
Just before he was scheduled to catch a ceremonial first pitch against the Minnesota Twins on Friday, June 9, Bass, a 35-year-old professional baseball player, was informed that he had been "designated for assignment" by his club. This term is used when a player is removed from their team's 40-man roster, as per MLB's website. In May, Bass faced criticism for posting a now-deleted video on his Instagram Story, where he urged people to boycott brands such as Bud Light and Target for their inclusive campaigns in the lead-up to Pride Month.
During a press conference a day after the incident, Bass, who has played in 22 games this season, expressed his regret over his controversial post and acknowledged its hurtful impact on the Pride community, including his friends and close family members. He apologized to his teammates and shared that he is currently utilizing the resources provided by the Blue Jays to educate himself and make more informed choices in the future.
According to a spokesperson for the Blue Jays, the club's beliefs do not align with the individual player sentiments expressed. The team remains dedicated to promoting diversity and providing an inclusive environment for all of its millions of fans across Canada.
Schneider, the team manager, emphasized the importance of Bass' apology as the initial step towards recognizing the impact of his actions on others. He stated that the process of taking responsibility would not end with a brief apology, and that the team would be dedicating resources to demonstrating Bass' understanding of his mistake.
Bass later told reporters that he removed the video because he felt it was too distracting, but he stands by his personal beliefs. He emphasized that he meant no harm towards any specific group of people and felt that taking down the video for the second time was the right thing to do in order to avoid being a distraction. His main focus as a team player is to win baseball games.
The professional baseball player, who began his career with the San Diego Padres in 2008, has also garnered attention for his personal life. He tied the knot with Sydney Rae Bass, the sister of Jessie James Decker, in August 2016 and became a father to daughter Brooklyn in September 2017. In 2020, the couple welcomed another daughter and announced in March 2023 that they were expecting a son. Recently, Anthony made headlines for standing up for his wife during a controversial incident on a United Airlines flight in April.
The traveler expressed his frustration on Twitter, stating that the United Airlines flight attendant had forced his 22-week pregnant wife to clean up a popcorn mess made by their 2-year-old daughter while traveling with their 5-year-old child. The request for his wife to get on her hands and knees was deemed unacceptable and disrespectful.
