DECEMBER 23: The value of Morton’s option will drop to $10MM if he spends 31 to 90 days on the DL by the end of 2020, $5MM for 91 to 150 days, $3MM for 151 to 200 days and $1MM for more than 200, Heyman tweets.
DECEMBER 21: This signing is now official.
DECEMBER 12, 10:57pm: The vesting option has quite a bit of flexibility, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports (Twitter links). If he’s on the DL for less than thirty days over the two guaranteed seasons, it’ll remain at $15MM. Otherwise, it could land at $10MM, $5MM, $3MM or $1MM, depending upon how many days he’s sidelined.
4:39pm: Morton will receive consecutive $15MM salaries, per Jon Heyman of Fancred (via Twitter). The deal includes assignment bonuses if Morton is traded, valued at $1MM in 2019 and $500K in 2020.
3:03pm: The Rays are in agreement on a deal with right-hander Charlie Morton, according to MLB.com’s Jon Paul Morosi (Twitter link). Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reported earlier today that Morton and the Rays were close to a deal, and also first reported on the interest between the two sides earlier this week.
Morton, a client of Jet Sports Management, will earn $30MM over the two-year contract, as per Yahoo Sports’ Jeff Passan. The deal also contains an option for the 2021 season that could be worth as much as $15MM if Morton remains healthy, though could also be as low as $1MM should Morton suffer a significant injury over the course of the initial two years. MLBTR’s ranked Morton 14th on our list of the offseason’s top 50 free agents and projected Morton for a two-year, $32MM commitment, so he could greatly surpass that figure should that option year be exercised at the full amount.
Though $30MM in guaranteed money isn’t a huge sum by most free agent standards, it counts as a major splurge by the low-spending Rays, though the club was able to account for the extra expenditure after a season that saw them clear millions off the books in long-term commitments. Even better for the Rays, they were able to slash payroll while still fielding their most competitive team in years, boasting a young roster that won 90 games in 2018. That progress left Tampa willing to spend a little extra in the hopes of making a full push towards a postseason berth next season.
The 35-year-old Morton has enjoyed a late-career awakening since coming to the Astros prior to the 2017 season and employing a new pitching philosophy that focused more on strikeouts and generating more velocity. The veteran has a 3.36 ERA, 10.4 K/9, and 3.19 K/BB rate over 313 2/3 innings in a Houston uniform, a stint that has included a key role in the Astros’ 2017 World Series championship and Morton’s first career All-Star berth in 2018. The veteran has posted 6.3 fWAR over the last two years, as opposed to 7.8 fWAR over the first nine seasons with the Braves, Pirates, and Phillies.
The Astros didn’t issue a one-year qualifying offer to Morton, though they did offer the hurler a one-year contract with an option on a second year. The Rangers were another known suitor, and one would assume that several other clubs had interest in Morton given his recent success and the fact that he could be signed to a shorter-term deal. Morton had given the impression that he could retire soon and wasn’t in search of a long-term commitment, though it seems he’ll put on the spikes for at least two more seasons. Morton had also expressed an interest in either a return to Houston or joining a team located closer to his wife’s family in Delaware, so the Rays’ east coast locale might’ve been something of a factor, even if Tampa Bay and Delaware aren’t exactly in close proximity.
Morton now joins AL Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow as the only three conventional starters in the Rays rotation, as manager Kevin Cash has said that the team will continue to use an “opener” at least twice during every turn of the rotation. Though the Rays used openers very regularly in 2018 (even on a near-daily basis over the summer while Snell was on the DL), adding a veteran arm like Morton to cover innings provides some extra cushion for the relief corps as it prepares for another significant workload.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
He’ll be traded before the second year of the deal
Is this a better signing than the Happ deal?
better pitcher and shorter contract; I’d say so.
Happ since 2015 deadline has a 3.27 era. Passed two years Morton 3.62 and 3.12 in the Al west and Happ 3.53 and 3.65 vs Al east
By ERA +
Happ 17-18: 127, 117
Morton: 113, 129
Oh the old tried and true ERA debate, too bad Happ’s peripherals are about a half run worse than Morton over that same time period. Also, it’s difficult to peg what their stats are against their division, unless you analyzed all the games…based on using era as your benchmark for success, I am willing to wager you did not. While it is more probable that they faced their division foes more frequently, who is to say that Happ didn’t throw mostly against the rays and Orioles instead of the yanks and sox? You can’t say definitively that Happ faces stiffer competition without diving deeper into the numbers. Regardless, I would rather have Morton than Happ unless I really needed a lefty.
I don’t think so. They are fairly equivalent, but I would prefer a lefty in Yankee stadium vs a righty that generally gets hit harder than happ.
Hard to compare as both pitched in different types of hitters parks. Given the third guaranteed year on Happ and the better park in Tampa to pitch in, I like the Tampa deal better.
Stop with this “he did it in the AL East” stuff. Didn’t both divisions have 2 playoff teams? And one of them had one of the worst teams of all time playing in it.
There were 3 90 win teams in the east also.
And 3-89 win teams in the West. Also had one other team win 80 and no team losing 100 games.
Not shorter. Both 2 yes
Yrs
Absolutely
Happ is LH
Just a get on the Rays part to flip him by July to a team in need of pitching!
Cash still going top use that silly “opener” thing…..what a joke of a franchise!
Just keep paying attention…..
Opener gave the rays the second best era in the al from the time they started using it. Shame on them for winning games
This. Shame on other teams who will be experimenting with it next season as well.
rocky7 in 1903: “This World Series thing is silly! It’ll never work out!”
Yeh, and you must be a fan of the shift also!
that silly siddfinch thing really fits you…..
Hate the world for changing, but it will change regardless
Mr. Manfred, can you please outlaw the opener immediately so that rocky7 can sleep tonight?
Rocky7 what a joke of a comment! You could have shown your displeasure about the opener without criticizing the franchise for sticking with what worked so well for them last year.
Wow, sorry I offended so many…..after watching 18 games of these guys vs. the Yankees every year, I didn’t know I had to be politically correct in all comments.
It was an experiment that was made out of necessity, not an innovative idea….they had slots in the rotation that they couldn’t fill….and were too cheap to go out and fill them.
Smoke that amjr
You do realize an opener is one inning then a “connector” comes in after which is a sp they are choosing to not let them face the lineup the 3rd time. They all could still be starters. This was completely designed basically same as taking your pitcher out in the 5th they just burn the first and get to the 6th now. Complete design
No I don’t agree…again having seen what the Rays used as their “starter” against the Yankees, whoever started the game never went as far as facing the lineup twice which would have very well been in the 4th or 5th inning.
Please don’t lecture me on your definition of what you think a “connector” the Rays use.
The Rays used this opener formula simply due to the number of “starters” on the DL….again not an innovation simply a necessity.
Rocky, perhaps they were forced into the opener strategy by necessity, but, uhhh, it kinda worked. It’s an entirely imperfect and new approach to the game, but the rays unequivocally demonstrated that there is value to that strategy through there remarkable success last season.
You must not follow the Rays much. The opener gets through the top 6 hitters or so with high octane stuff. Then what follows is softer tossing sinkerball types to mess with the hitters timing then the hope is that hard throwers close it out. If that not innovation I don’t know what is. And it worked.
It’s not new. Isn’t that what would make it innovative? It guarentees the match up or that they burn a bench piece.
It’s not what I think a connector is lol. An opener pitches the 1st inning. I don’t think we needed our closer pitching the 1st because we had no starters in our entire organization. Then the pitcher who follows the opener… aka the connector then pitches innings 2 to about 6 maybe the 5th therefore not letting that pitcher face the lineup the 3rd time. I watched every single rays game this season and Ryan Yarborough was a starter in AAA but wait in the majors he was a connector? You’re saying it Wasn’t by design well then why in the world would be not be starting? Because they didn’t like his stats the 3rd time through. Wilmer font- starter but on the rays a connector. Chirinos- starter but on the rays a connector. Your theory makes no sense. They said they have been planning this for the past 2 and a half years there’s an interview all about it. Was 100% complete strategy and just had the perfect time to implement it.
And did you know rocky7 that even if throwing a perfect game you’ll reach the 2nd time through the order before the 5th lmao. You can’t face the order a 2nd starting the 5th inning
The Rays utilized the Opener/Follower pitching plan because it keeps batters off balance. Until the hitter figures out how to overcome this The Rays (and almost every other ball club will be using it! Oh, The shift hasn’t been figured out yet as well! Hitters today are 1 dimensional players.
Face it, the Rays are just more innovative than the Yankees. The opener is here to stay. Deal with it.
If using an opener can get you upwards of 90 wins, then sign me up.
Yeh, I guess that’s why pitchers like Corbin, and Eovaldi, and the likes of Sale, Kluber etc make the change they do in contracts.
Look, I’m entitled to my opinion on this and you can disagree all day long…its not going to change my mind.
Teams work very hard to assemble 5 man rotations in which those pitchers pitch upwards to 150-180 and 200 innings each year.
If it was such a brilliant idea every team would do it.
“Don’t try to reason with me using logic and facts, I’m entitled to my ignorant and close-minded opinion,”
The reality is that many teams ARE experimenting with the opener and its success last year is the reason why.
Yeah, he actually flat out said facts won’t change his mind. There’s no debate to be had here. Let’s let him stay in his bubble.
I’m not saying that if you use all openers instead of starters, you’re going to be a 90 win team. But if you are a small market team, and you don’t have 5 good starters, then using an opener for the last spot in the rotation until prospects are ready or you find a deal you like isn’t a bad idea.
Yarbrough had 16 wins and almost 150 innings pitched. Sounds a lot better than a traditional #5 starter to me, especially for a soft tossing lefty who was never a prospect.
Rocky, your anger is misplaced. You shouldn’t be mad at the Rays for maximizing their roster and getting 90 wins using non traditional pitching staffs. You should be angry at your team for being scared to think outside of the box and coming up 8 games short in the division, despite a $180 million payroll, while continuing to run out traditional starters like Gray and German to get smacked all over the yard. Even more embarrassing for Yankees fans such as yourself is that all of that salary and 5 “true” starters led to Severino being the only pitcher on the staff who threw enough innings to even qualify for an ERA title.
This comment is perfect lol
@srechter
Its hard to have many conclusions after one season. The “fact” is that it was a successful strategy for them in 2018. Whether it works next year, with a different cast, is unknown. It may be like bullpen arms, inconsistent from season to season. Time will tell.
What the Rays do that’s timeless is to keep the competition off balance as to what they will do in next in a game. Be assured they will have a twist with thier pitching no other team thought of doing.
A joke of a franchise who won 90 games while playing in the AL East!!
Great signing for the Rays. The AL and NL east should be very interesting 3/4 man races.
Fangraphs has the Ray’s coming up 10 games short before adding Morton, who was good for 3.1 WAR last year. I think the .556 W% was generous
Those projections have been wrong several times before. They’re not fact; otherwise there’s no point in playing the season anyway.
I nominate this for comment of the day.
The correct use of the semicolon alone is worth an upvote.
of the year…
Well they also had us projected at 96 losses this year so that in itself proves your point to be false, the rays have a window rn to contend until 2023-2024 and that’s just with the players we have now not to mention all of there prospects coming through
You got that right!
lol
96 projected losses for a team that won 90 games, yet the kids on here keep posting protections like they’re going to be fact.
Like getting an education from the Internet.
Vegas is what matters.
The current projections show the Rays at 84 wins. That’s -6 from last year, but still the 5th most wins in the AL. Just for some comparison, the projections currently have the Red Sox at 98 (-10) and the Yankees at 93 (-7). These projection systems regress to the mean and obviously will have teams over/under perform the projection. The important aspect is they currently believe the Rays have a top 5 team in the AL as currently constructed.
Go Rays…finally they spend over the million mark.
Good for the Rays. Was really hoping the Astros would bring him back.
Don’t worry, he’ll be available at either the 2019 or 2020 deadline, so HOU can bring him back for low level prospects and salary relief.
Me too! I have to now eat crow as the other day I said there is no way he goes to Tampa.
Good for Rays!
Reds should have done this deal.
Yeah I don’t know why he would go to the Reds
Yeah, why on Earth would he want to pitch in that park?
Alright so its snell morton and whatever 3 legged race candidates the rays use for the 3 4 5 spots.
Glassnow, Chirinos, Beeks, Yarborough…along with Honeywell, De Leon, and Banda coming back from TJS.
Is Faria not on this list anymore?
Yup, but to a lesser extent IMO. Hopefully he can rebound back to his 2017 self, but not putting a ton of stock in that just yet…
Also were is Wilmer font?
Knew I was forgetting someone else…Jose Mujica as well.
Mujica is out till 2020 with tommy john, he has it in September
Ahh, you are correct sir. Tough to keep count!
Finally, Ian Snell and Morton are reunited
Only a Bucco fan would get that. Good one.
Paul Maholm and Zach Duke approve of this comment.
Good for Charlie and Rays… Will be missed in Houston.
Absolutely. I think the Astros missed the ball on this one. He wanted to come back and 2/30 is a win/win imo. Now they are going to have to trade a bunch of prospects to bring someone in.
this is actually a pretty good deal.
Obviously this is way too early to predict this, but the AL East could have three playoff teams next year.
Gonna be a fight between one of the AL East teams and the A’s. Really good shot that 3 from the East make it I think.
There are only 5-6 teams in the AL that are even trying in 2019. The Rays are definitely one of them.
It’s a real possibility. I mean looking at it right now there are only 6 maybe 7 teams that might contend this year in the AL? Obviously there are the 5 teams that made the playoffs last year plus the Rays but outside of them the maybe the Angels or Twins but neither of them has done much to improve.
Nothing compares to the NL central and of the 3 teams could win that division.
3 a tick above average teams fighting for 92 wins isn’t exactly thrilling
Opener or “finisher?”
Rays are kind of scary imo , especially when teams have to face them in that thing they call a ballpark
This is a great signing. Really wanted the Yanks to sign him.
Woo Hoo! Great signing. So proud that they lead the FA pitching signings! Morton is a great move!
Nice signing. A lot of money for the Rays, but nice
Congrats Rays!
good job
This is a deal that made total sense from day 1 of free agency.
Good get, Rays.
Very happy and excited for this. Good for the Rays.
Got another one wrong! Still got only Eovaldi correct thus far.
Just call me Nostradumbass.
I think you can stop providing updates now. I don’t think you are in it.
You, sir….
…are probably correct.
Hopefully he’s healthy because last month and playoffs he didn’t look too good.
Hopefully he doesn’t get too comfortable. He’ll be in a new city once Sternberg learns he actually spent money on a player.
Let’s go boys. Now let’s make a trade for a slugger
Encarnacion?
Any reason why his market never really developed? For me, he’s roughly on par with Arrieta & Tanaka (from last year) or Eovaldi (this year), but came away with significantly less money than those guys. He couldn’t even get Alex Cobb money! Real head-scratcher for sure….
Tanaka didn’t even opt out last year if I remember correctly. But I’d imagine the reason for Morton’s market not exploding was because he seemed to be a lot more picky from the start. He only seemed to want to pitch in the right situation.
Good question. Where were the Phillies on this one?
He’s considerably older, in baseball years, than all of those other guys. He’s around the age when a lot of pitchers break down, if they haven’t already. Not saying that will definitely happen, but it is the reason teams weren’t offering more. 35-year-old pitchers just don’t get 4-year contracts anymore.
A 36 year-old pitcher got a 3 year contract for a higher AAV earlier in the day……
I think there’s some injury concerns. He missed a chunk of September and didn’t look real good when he did pitch the last month.
Charlie was reportedly being a bit selective about where he wanted to play. He’s older and has a family in Delaware so he didn’t want to be too far from them (so no West Coast I guess), and I got the feeling he preferred to avoid the largest media spotlights (so no New York for example).
I still don’t know where this Delaware thing comes from. Charlie Morton lives in Bradenton Florida. That’s about a 20 minute drive from the Trop.
It came from Morton himself……”“[I]t would be about the situation overall,” the right-hander said. “What’s the group like in the clubhouse? Where would I be? Would I be closer to [his wife’s] family (in Delaware) in a spot where she would prefer to be?” Morton goes on to list his own health and performance as additional determining factors in playing into 2019 and possibly beyond.”
mlbtraderumors.com/2018/04/astros-rumors-charlie-m…
Lots of optimism in the comments. Good for the commenters.
I think first time ever.
Good for Charlie. When first glanced at my phone thought it said Reds to sign him. But wow, the Rays. Good signing, TB should be good next/this year.
I Like It. . . 35,36 two year contract. Maybe 3. . . He earned it. Good Job and Stay Healthy. ! ! !
BIG Money Ray$
Nice work by Jet. Convincing the Rays to commit $15M/yr to anyone is a tough task.
So I’ll be the oddball and agree with Jayson Starke…..there’s more downside here than upside. Morton had a GREAT first half last year, not so good second half. He’s 35 and injury prone. And the over-riding question is: why didn’t the Astros, who are as metric-oriented as the Rays (probably more so), have the same need (probably more so) and have more money (definitely) seem not to pay him any attention at all.
The Rays are going to spend money (I expect Cruz). But that may be more in response to MLB’s letter yesterday, which was supremely critical of the financing details of a new stadium, and implied the Rays’ ownership was as much to blame as the county/state/business interests.
It’s pivotal time in Tampa. The other owners are fed up; the union is fed up. I completely expect the next move will be a suspension of Revenue Sharing (a la Oakland, tho the owners left themselves an out by saying it can be “reconsidered” depending on the stadium situation).
And the Rays rely more than any other team on RS. There isn’t a scintilla of doubt that without it, the franchise is worth 1/3 of its current value, and will be relocated.
Not everyone uses the same metrics.
I’m sure he will be traded before July 31st. But for 4 months it’s a good signing.
This is why I like the Rays. They know how to spend their money.
I can’t believe the Yankees let this happen!!
Wow solid signing by Tampa are they also going to sign Nelson Cruz? Stepping up in a tough division.
I’ll put money on them signing Cruz a reliever and acquiring Realmuto. Call me whatever you want now. Just wait
I do like the idea of Cruz being the straw in our drink next year. However I just don’t think the Rays do it. I believe they want to keep that DH spot fluid. Too many guys to rotate in there. If we trade or sign a RH power bat he’s taking the field somedays in my opinion. No on JT as well. I’m hoping for positive things from both Zunino and Perez next season……hoping
There’s truth to that. Assuming a Wendle-Adames-Duffy IF, there really isn’t a spot for D-Rob and Lowe (the “ow” one). And at some point you have to decide if Bauers is a major leaguer.
I’d spend the money on pitching. They’re never going to compete with the Sox/Yanks offensively. They win the IF defense battle (a real gimme, considering you can roll the ball through any other IF in the AL East for a hit), and trail only the Sox in OF defense. Catching with Z is another easy win.
So you play to your strength. Beat ’em to death with pitching, pitching, and more pitching. Honeywell (not sure that screwball works in the AL East), Deleon (work ethic) and Banda (conditioning-wise, Bartello Colon clone) all have their questions, but 1 or 2 two of them could emerge mid-July or sooner. So add a couple of vets, and go from there.
Jt is iffy but this FO is proving they are gonna buy if they need to unlike the old front office. But there’s no doubt in my mind we sign Cruz. There’s a reason we dumped Cron and it wasn’t to put Duffy in as dh. They want a feared 40 hr bat in the middle to solidify the power. Not for the kids. And they have made it extremely clear
Morton is the pitching vet they wanted. They already have about 6 guys lined up for 2 opener slots. They aren’t adding any more pitching. Ranking in the bottom 3rd in runs scored isn’t making the post season just because you don’t have the same offense as Boston and New York doesn’t make you don’t try and get as close as you can
I had my fingers crossed for Goldy. I was nervous of what we would give up. Again I just don’t see them locking up that DH spot. So then it’s EE or Santana? If that’s the case depending on the return I’d of probably liked to see CJ back in there. Maybe there is a surprise trade out there. You are correct in a Cron upgrade did seem like priority #1. If it doesn’t come to fruition I will not be upset with what we have going into 19. Sure there’s not alot of real battled tested guys but that’s part of the fun I suppose. We need to squash the injury bug all around the diamond. A big year for KK I hope.
I replied on every Rays site to keep CJ Cron. Now the top RH DH options are very expensive in money or prospects! Please, no Santana! Instead consider Ramos (DH and some catching?) or longoria -7 mill max to take him off Giants hands?. Great FO move with Morton on so many levels!!!
The rays don’t care if it costs money. That’s what they want a more proven feared hitter. That costs money yeah… not gonna win with a 35 mil payroll
Not aware that Martinez from St.L is expensive.
What exactly does Banda as a Bartolo Colon clone mean? He’s left handed and not overweight.
Wrong again….0 for 50 looking good.
Morton quietly goes about his business and pitches well – good deal all around.
I wonder what the plan is for he Astros. Assuming Keuchel signs elsewhere they have to replace him, Morton and McCullers. And next year Verlander and Cole are FA.
I wonder if they could extend Cole now? Unlikely since he’s a Boras client.
Good signing for Tampa Bay.
Prefer him over Kluber or Bauer.
Don’t have to send over A+ prospects to the Indians to help keep them relevant.
Rays can now focus on making another T. Pham type trade by the trade deadline to give this team another talent surge.
I still see the Rays & Indians making a Edwin E. trade down the road if the Rays dont sign N. Cruz
Yep Astros still going cheap this year. Could be in trouble with all the holes to plug if they think they are going anywhere in the playoffs.
Another one off the board for Houston. Doesn’t sound like they’re getting Happ, either.
Happ is a Yankee as of a few hours ago. For now at least.
I apologize. Saw early today an article expressing that it was a done deal.
I don’t know if their opener strategy will keep working, would rather they sign a couple more starters to round out the rotation. Nelson Cruz would be scary in that lineup too!
If Cruz is willing to go 1 year but I dont see the Rays going to 2 unless it is a option with a low buyout.
Cruz’s bat has shown no sign of slowing down. He’s worth two years.
Cruz is presently asking too much! 36 mill for 2 years or more! Just for DH? Rays are better off trading prospects for a Thumper and waiting as they are doing.. Great P/U with Morton!
No he’s not asking too much lol. Check your sources
I’m happy that he didn’t retire. I’m also very happy for him and his family. When you get the opportunity to almost match your entire career earnings (roughly $40 million) in just two years you have to take it. In the scheme of things an hour and a half plane ride from FL to DE is pretty small with regards to the bigger picture. Also, he could take the kids to Disney on the off days so seriously I can’t see a downside here for him and his family with this deal.
He still doesn’t live in Delaware. His wife’s Family lives in Delaware. He lives in the Tampa Bay Area. So he’s staying right where he is alread.
The Portland Pioneers, the Montreal Expos II, or the Charlotte Knights? Anyway, looks to be a decent team next year.
Add Cruz and the Rays could possibly challenge the Red Sox and Yankees for the division.
More like they get second wild card.
Whoever got that 1st wild card will not be thrilled hosting the Rays in a 1 game playoff.
Very happy for Charlie. It was frustrating how inconsistent he was when in Pittsburgh but a lot of Buc fans seemed to sense that nobody was trying harder than Charlie Morton to succeed. It took him going to Houston to really hit his prime and cash in, and it couldn’t have happened to a seemingly more humble and upstanding guy. Congrats.
I hope the Reds at least, pursued him. He’s got light out stuff along with a 97mph baseball. 2 yrs 30mil is a steal for him. His last 2yrs were great. Some guys are just late bloomers.
Who gets cut/traded?
“I think I’d retire if I cant play close to home in Philly, NY, Baltimore, or DC…. wait 2/30M? Yea Florida is close enough.”
Thought he wanted to stay close to home?
Maybe he thought Tampa would be a nice new home.
A 20 minute drive is about as close to home as you can get. I repeat – he does not live in Delaware. His wife’s parents live in Delaware. He lives in Bradenton. Right across the Sunshine Skyway from Tropicana Field. This doesn’t take much research to confirm.
it does not take much research to confirm what he said about his wife’s “wants” as well.
Moving near his wife’s family seemed more likely than moving by his home, when he said it. Tampa or Miami being FA destinations was not on the board.
Great signing. Getting the DL options to hedge their bet was amazing, such a Rays move. Their FO out does most teams and with less. When Honeywell and de Leon return, the rotation should keep up with the Yankees and Red Sox.
Nelson Cruz makes too much sense, they don’t honestly think Jake Bauers is the answer? At least force a Ji-Man/Jake position battle.
“If he’s on the DL for less than thirty days over the two guaranteed seasons, it’ll remain at $15MM. Otherwise, it could land at $10MM, $5MM, $3MM or $1MM, depending upon how many days he’s sidelined.”
Sounds like he’ll be pitching hurt…
The fact that the Astros, with only two pitchers signed for next season, didn’t even make an offer, is somewhat concerning.
Wow, that’s a long time to finish up this signing. I totally forgot that he signed with the Rays 9 days ago
Dont forget about Liberatore down on the farm for TB. The guy has front of the rotation stuff.
The stipulations attached to that option year is genius. Hopefully other teams follow this trend.
I’m surprised that he actually accepted them. He had other options so I’m guessing that for a change it wasn’t all about money.
For a small market team like the Rays, they need to do contracts like these.
Why would a player with Morton’s ability sign such a ridiculous deal???