World News – USA – Braves sign a one-year contract with Charlie Morton

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After much speculation that he might be a logical target, the Braves have brought Charlie Morton back to where his career began.

After a 2020 regular season marked by chaos and fighting over the start of the Atlanta Braves rotation, the Braves were quick to decide this isn’t a trail they want to relive. While Atlanta showed promise in many of its young arms in the postseason, the Braves seem to feel that the best path to a successful 2021 season is to support their immense young talent with a little more reliable depth. After signing Drew Smyly on a one-year $ 11 million deal this off-season, the Braves again took the opportunity to add another quality arm to their rotation.

This time around, Atlanta is happy to welcome home in the form of a very trusted and respected ex-farm worker.

Morton was designed by the Braves in the third round of the 2002 design. He worked his way through the Atlanta farming system and while showing significant talent, he was never able to remain consistent. After all, he was part of a trio of prospects that traded on the Pittsburgh Pirates for Nate Mclouth during the 2009 season (how was it over 11 years?). For the next decade, Morton would prove to be a useful starter pitcher at times, with brief periods of brilliance. However, during his time with the Phillies and Pirates, he only threw more than 150 innings twice between 2009 and 2016.

Morton joined the Astros for the 2017 season and, like several other pitchers, notably Gerrit Cole, saw instant and significant success as the Astros adapted its approach. The results have been hugely successful as Morton won a World Series with the Astros in 2017 and received his first All-Star selection in 2018. Additionally, Morton was heavily followed as a free agent starter after the 2018 season. At the time, it was reported that Morton had a keen interest in joining the Braves. Atlanta didn’t pursue a reunion, however, and Morton agreed to a two-year $ 30 million deal with the Tampa Bay Rays.

Morton responded with the best year of his career in 2019 when he received another All-Star appearance and finished third in the AL Cy Young awards vote. Though his effectiveness diminished somewhat in 2020, Morton remained very valuable in helping the Rays advance to the 2020 World Series with several successful starts in the playoffs. However, the Rays decided not to take his team option for the 2021 season.

With that decision made, this time around, the Braves don’t seem to have missed the opportunity to sign Morton. Morton is 12th among the qualified starters since 2017. in fWAR and FIP among the qualified starters. After entering the 2020 postseason as a team with the worst ERA starting rotation of any playoff team in MLB history, the Braves looked for a source who was talented, reliable and could help stabilize a unit that would with the Max Fried and Mike Soroka together with the impressive rookie Ian Anderson offered a duo of great potential. Morton certainly seems like a very logical option to fit into this role and thrive.

Atlanta Braves, Charlie Morton, Tampa Bay Rays, Houston Astros, MLB, Pittsburgh Pirates, Philadelphia Phillies