The former Atlanta Braves right-handed pitcher shared what happened that led to his offseason signing with the Baltimore Orioles.
The Atlanta Braves began the summer with a vacancy in their starting rotation. So, when right-hander Charlie Morton showed interest in returning for the 2025 season, it felt like a given that he would be back in Atlanta.
Morton returns to Atlanta in 2021, having started his career with the Braves. He was on the team’s championship roster that season and had pitched for the Braves the previous four seasons.
However, in 2025, he will start games for the Baltimore Orioles. According to David O’Brien of The Athletic, the Braves did not submit an offer for Morton to return this year.
Morton told O’Brien that he doesn’t know why.
“I consider Alex [Anthopoulos] a friend, and I don’t know what they’re going through,” Morton joked. “I am not sure what they are up against or what their roster ambitions are. And I do not take anything personally. I’ll always care about everyone in that clubhouse, including the men I’ve spent the previous four years with.
“I understand the business side of things, and there are some things that are confidential and that people would never discuss with me because they are under no need to do so. I don’t need to know what happened, and I don’t have any right. After four years as a Brave and going through a lot with the men in the clubhouse and the entire organization, I believe you feel like you belong going into the offseason. You get a sense of belonging to a wider family.
Described by O’Brien as wanting to finish his career with the Braves, Morton referred to the previous four seasons in Atlanta as “extremely special.”
This summer, the right-hander agreed to a one-year, $15 million deal with the Orioles. He was paid $5 million more by the Braves in 2024.
If one had to speculate, the Braves’ main reason for not making Morton an offer was his age. During his age-40 season, he was still productive despite turning 41 in November.
He pitched 165.1 innings in 2024 and recorded an 8-10 record with a 4.19 ERA, 1.325 WHIP, and 167 strikeouts.
The Braves haven’t signed any notable starting pitchers this offseason to replace Morton or fellow free agent departure Max Fried. That makes Atlanta’s lack of interest in Morton even more surprising.
Early in the winter, I conjectured that the Braves might be holding out for a low-cost contract to re-sign Morton. However, given that the organization made no offer to the right-hander at all, that doesn’t seem to be the case.
Morton leaves Atlanta with 140 regular season appearances, a 49-42 record, and a 4.09 ERA. Over the course of five seasons, he also recorded 819 strikeouts and 1.286 WHIP in 761 innings.
Morton has only pitched more innings and played for the Pittsburgh Pirates for more seasons in his 17-year MLB career.
In 2025, he will pitch for his sixth MLB organization. Morton has also played for the Houston Astros, Tampa Bay Rays and Philadelphia Phillies.
