If there was any doubt as to whether Charlie Morton would continue his playing career following comments in which he openly pondered retirement, the right-hander indicated last night that he hopes to return for a 12th big league season at the very least (Twitter link via Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle). “I’d love to keep playing,” Morton said after last night’s game. “I’d love to be an Astro. I’d love to be a part of this again. Ultimately, it’s not really up to me. It’s not solely up to me.”
Morton’s most recent indications were that, so long as he didn’t suffer any notable injury in the season’s final month, “chances are” he’d continue his career. His intentions seem all the clearer now. Set to turn 35 next month, Morton has previously indicated that he’ll be selective about the team with which he signs and has emphasized that if he were to continue pitching, the Astros are his ideal fit. Thursday night’s comments seem to double down on that line of thinking. If a return doesn’t come together for whatever reason, Morton indicated earlier this year that proximity to his wife’s family in Delaware could be an important geographic factor should he look at offers from other teams.
It seems all but certain that the Astros will issue a $17.9MM qualifying offer to Morton, so speculatively speaking, perhaps that’ll be a simple avenue for him to return to Houston in 2019. However, there’s little doubt that if he wanted to seek maximum value in free agency, Morton could trounce that figure on the heels of a pair of eye-opening campaigns with the ’Stros. Morton has made 55 starts for Houston across the past two seasons, pitching to a pristine 3.36 ERA with 10.4 K/9, 3.3 BB/9, 0.92 HR/9 and a 49.6 percent ground-ball rate. At this point, he’s probably among baseball’s 25 to 30 best starting pitchers — an ascension that seems rapid and out of the blue but is no more sudden than the surge that netted a 37-year-old Rich Hill a three-year deal in free agency two offseasons ago.
It’s not clear exactly how long Morton wishes to continue his career, and the right-hander himself may not even truly know the answer to that question at this time. But it’d be a surprise if he didn’t receive a qualifying offer, and if chooses to explore the open market rather than agree to a quick return to Houston, it’s at least plausible that he could more than double the $40.7MM he’s made in his career on his next contract. One way or the other, he’s about to cash in on a massive raise from the modest two-year, $14MM deal that initially brought him to Houston.
A QA is all but certain? Who is going to give him more then 1/15m?
Better take that QA before the ink dries
QO
Lasershow..always that one guy. Might as well be you and get it out of the way right? Lol
I thought he meant a quality agreement, haha. All joking aside, I hate when people don’t understand typos.
Better check his 17/18 numbers and compare them to other recent free agent starters.
I really think any contender should be willing to give him $18M for a season.
Was he really that good or was it the Astros that made him good? (Wink wink)
I’m really happy for Morton. The injury that he suffered with the Phillies a few years back (torn hamstring) was pretty brutal. I always enjoy when a player finds a late career renaissance.
Now that they have Osuna, Astros need to concentrate on adding a much more needed Power Bat and a 2nd Lefty.They certainly have the money and prospects to do so. Trade for Goldschmidt and go hard after Harper and Britton while bringing back Marwin and Morton at a fair price tag.
I feel like they’re almost guaranteed to trade for Realmuto now
I can see them going after Harper. But to trade for Goldschmidt, would require them to give up top pitching prospects. With Verlander, Cole and Goldschmidt all being free agents after next season, that wouldn’t be smart long term. Verlander I could see staying after next season. But Cole will more than likely test the market. Which means, getting into a bidding war to keep him.
Now that he has a ring, and after building a new home in Beverly Hills, Justin Verlander-Upton is just biding his time until he signs with the Dodgers.
Yeah something that wouldn’t cost much is raiding the giants, it would be a lot more affordable to go after belt and Smith or Watson
They aren’t going after Harper in FA. They should make a run at Goldy that includes a trade package that includes Yordan Alvarez as the headliner. They aren’t getting Tucker or Whitley for one year of Goldschmidt. That’s out of the question… I would think a trade package that includes a of ML ready pitcher (Armentaros or Valdez), a 1b prospect (and top 100 prospect) in Alvarez, a minor league SP w upside (Corbin Martin, Solomon, etc.) and another ML ready bat (JD Davis, Straw, etc.)
I see them taking Martin from TO with Toronto eating 75% of the salary and a B grade prospect in return. They need a solid defensive catcher with experience and Toronto has maile, Jansen and McGuire and Martin didn’t
Even play a game after September 5th. If not the stros, he goes somewhere.. I see the best fit with the Astros though
I never realized what an airhead Kate Upton is until the ALCS
Interesting but what you find “out of the question” as far as players won’t work unless you somehow represent the Astros in any negotiations for players forward.
Not getting into the Series, let alone winning it with a rather short window as far as pitching might cause them to do anything….and we’re pretty sure they’re not calling you to “okay” the trade package.
How do you know..oh wait you don’t
LOL man… You take “delusional Giants fan” to a whole other level!
Nope.
If the prospects the Marlins got for Stanton, Ozuna and Yelich pan out quickly, the Fish will want to keep Realmuto. But if the Astros have good bats in the other eight spots in the order, playing defense first catchers can work. Besides, I’m not so sure Realmuto is any better than average behind the plate. There are other needs that are more important.
Realmuto and Cruz
That would be my dream for them. Resign Morton and Gonzalez. You’d be set
Osuna wasn’t all that this week and they shouldn’t have traded for his woman-beating butt in the first place.
He played pretty well overall. They have control of him for a few more years. He will be one of the best moves we made. Giles has to go!
What everyone said on here, and I’ve been saying forever; Biggest QO candidate — to receive — and accept QO.
1.Springer CF
2.Correa SS
3.Altuve 2B
4.Bregman 3B
5.Harper RF
6.Goldschmidt 1B
7.Gurriel DH
8.Maldonado C
9.Reddick LF
bench: Stassi C, Gonzalez UT, Kemp OF, Marisnick OF.
================
1.Verlander
2.Cole
3.McCullers Jr.
4.Morton
5.McHugh
6.Peacock
7.James
================
Peacock LR
Smith MR
Sipp MR
Devenski SU
Britton SU
Pressly SU
Osuna (CL)
plenty of depth and power bats/arms.
uh thats probably not how that’d lineup would go lol.
@to4,
Can we address if Morton accepts QO, you lose 3 starters to FA after 2019. (Unless you re-sign/ext.)
Count Keuchel and u could lose 4 SP to FA after ‘19
How much SP depth do u have, to replace 4 guys?
Josh James
Forrest Whitley
Cionel Perez
Corbin Martin
Framber Valdez
Rogelio Armentero
plus any other major league that they’ll sign/or extend, like Cole for example.
1.Altuve 2B
2.Bregman 3B
3.Goldschmidt 1B
4.Springer CF
5.Harper RF
6
1.Altuve 2B
2.Bregman 3B
3.Goldschmidt 1B
4.Springer CF
5.Harper RF
6.Correa SS
7.Gurriel DH
8.Maldonado C
9.Reddick KF
I would probably set it up like this with the 3 top base stealers 1st, follow by the rest of the powerhouse.
Harper and Goldy?? Wtf haha
why not ? Goldy only got one yr of control left before FA. you offer the D-Backs a package of Tyler White and Kyle Tucker and I’m sure that’ll be more than enough to get Goldy lose.
Dude… they’re not getting Harper and goldschmidt
Especially while keeping everybody from the mlb roster
Yeah! Why trade for Paul and give up prospects for him, when I can resign Gattis for a few million.
sure, maybe not, but they could if they want to.
Anybody else you wanna add in there? Machado, maybe? Aaron Judge coming off the bench? How about Kershaw for middle relief?
you’re in dream land
pretty good lineup for fantasy baseball
Wow, Harper, Britton AND Goldy!!!!!!!
YOU ARE A BIG SPENDER! What bank are you writing the check from?
That’s 27 guys
25 with 2 SP as depth.
If I’ve ever seen a pipe dream line up… they don’t and won’t spend dodgers money.
Love the Giants to pick him up but probably won’t be on their radar, assume he stays with the Astros. I feel they would go after JTR tho…
they probably won’t be on his radar either tbh
I am sure he is on their radar. They love to sign guys that are aging and high risk, little reward in an unending refusal to accept that the team is not very good and needs more than just a couple of veteran bandaids.
I wouldn’t mind Atlanta looking to bring him back on a 1-2 year deal if the QO isn’t given.
He would be perfect for Atlanta, but I don’t see him leaving Houston.
Yeah I feel like there’s no way he leaves
Charlie: Baseball is a lot more fun when i dont have an ERA of 5 on the Pirates lol
With Pirates…..
4.39 ERA
4.03 FIP
3.99 xFIP
You’d think from how he was portrayed with the Pirates that he was the worst pitcher in the league.
He had a 3.96 ERA, 3.85 FIP, and 3.89 xFIP with them from 2011-2015 in 624 IP.
He was the most inconsistent pitcher in baseball when with the Pirates.
He was infuriatingly inconsistent with the Pirates. Some nights he would show glimpses of what he’s been doing the past two years except the big strikeout numbers and give you something to dream on for the forseeable future and other days he’d give up 6 runs in three innings with twice as many walks to strikeouts. Mostly though he was on and off the DL all the time and couldn’t get on any sort of roll.
Steve,
off topic but an article on those who’s price have increased or decreased since the trade deadline would be interesting. Specifically I’m wondering what Eovaldi is now worth? If his WS play continues like it’s been, a bidding war including the Yankees and Red Sox is likely to ensue.
Of course the Yankees would want him back. If the Red Sox want to keep him, I imagine they’d have the inside track.
The question is how much $$ has he earned? He’s in his prime , pitching phenomenally and depending on your team doctor’s view on reinjuring the throwing arm, his contract could suddenly be huge.
“pitching phenomenally”…..really…..are we speaking about Eovaldi?
Prior to this year, he was out 2 and the previous 4 had ERA’s well above 4.0.
I guess you’re basing everyone on his 2018 audition for a new deal, and you seem ready to deliver a HUGH MULTI YEAR deal.
His habit of getting injured will factor, as well as in his career, he only threw 200 innings (actually 199) 1 time.
Horses get paid, dogs get checked for fleas! He certainly isn’t a horse!
I agree he is not a horse
Don;t think the Yankees would want him back….once was enough.
And, while he pitched well against the Yankees, he was sub .500 for the year and his metrics didn’t scream “got to have him”.
Rocky7, we don’t usually agree so why should this be any different? Health is definitely a question but many believe the chances of needing a second procedure is small once you’ve proven yourself again. If adjustments from the surgery or simply now learning how to pitch explains his sudden success, why wouldn’t the Yankees be again interested considering their need? I’m not suggesting a break the bank contract in years and average dollars but considering where he was as of say June (if not the trading deadline), he certainly is in line for an amazing deal.
I think Nathan has another year of control.
Nope. He signed a two year deal with Tampa prior to last year.
I would rather extend Bregman or Springer than sign a Bryce Harper or Machado
i’d think they rather piece their rotation back together than spend more money on bats
Verlander, Cole, Morton, Whitley and Valdez looks like McCullers may need TJ according to some rumors floating around Houston this morning. Not sure the validity of those rumors though… Astros rotation still in pretty good shape even if we assume Kuechel leaves in FA and McCullers needing TJ. I doubt Morton leaves the Astros. This seems like a logical QO candidate and QO acceptance. Astros may want a BOR veteran guy. Still have JB Bukauskas and Corbin Martin close to being ML ready. Debuts in 2020 seem most probable.
I wouldn’t mind seeing McHugh back in the rotation as a #4 or #5
Their bats are fine! Leave them be! Need to retool their rotation a bit
Nah, now’s the time to trade Springer. Under cheap contract next year and controllable for 2020. Should be plenty of teams willing to trade for him.
That city would get burnt to the ground
Lol… he does great 1/3 of the season, is injured 1/6 and sucks for half. He’ll eventually head northeast anyways where him and his wife’s family are from
Agreed
I feel Morton would he to humble to accept a QO. I’d say he rejects, then signs back with Houston for significantly less AAV. He certainly deserves the QO, but even during the all star game he made it seem like he felt bad for taking someone else’s spot even though he deserved it!
> It seems all but certain that the Astros will issue a $17.9MM qualifying offer to Morton
A laughable assertion.
What type of deal do you guys think it would take for Realmuto? Do you think Whitley or tucker has to be involved? Or do you think it could be Alvarez, Martin, Bukauskus and a filler like davis?
And the Astros would have “Loved” to return to the World Series……
Red Sox fan here! We will take Morton if you Astro’s fans will Take Price and his contract off our hands!