The Toronto Blue Jays announced Friday that right-handed pitcher Anthony Bass has cleared waivers and is now a free agent.
Bass was designated for assignment one week ago as the club activated fellow reliever Mitch White.
It was the latest development in a controversy that began earlier in the month when Bass shared a social media post that supported anti-2SLGBTQ+ boycotts. He made a brief public apology the day after the post.
Bass was designated for assignment hours before the start of Pride Weekend at Rogers Centre. That started a seven-day period for the Blue Jays to trade Bass or put him on waivers.
General manager Ross Atkins, in a mid-afternoon availability, said the roster move was a "baseball decision to make our team better."
Bass did not record a decision in 22 appearances this season. He had a 4.95 ERA and was used in low-leverage situations.
Bass had shared a video post he later deleted that urged others to spurn Target and Bud Light over the support they showed for the LGBTQ community.
The right-hander was booed by home fans in his two appearances after the controversy first developed.
Bass said he felt he was "in a better place moving forward'" after meeting with Pride Toronto executive director Sherwin Modeste.
However, in a pre-game scrum with reporters last Thursday, Bass noted that he still stood by his personal beliefs, adding he initially did not think the video post — which described the selling of Pride-themed merchandise as "evil" and "demonic" — was hateful.
-- With files from CP
