In advance of his start in tomorrow’s ALCS Game 2, Rays right-hander Charlie Morton addressed his long-term future with reporters (including Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times and Jon Morosi of MLB Network). The 13-year MLB veteran suggested in February he might step away at the end of the 2020 season. That’s still a possibility, but Morton made clear today the decision is partly in the team’s hands.
The Rays hold a $15MM club option on Morton’s services for 2021, and the pitcher said he’d be happy to play out that deal if the team exercises the option. Morton, who makes his home in Florida, said he’d “be completely honored and privileged to continue to play for the Rays” next season. If Tampa Bay were to decline the option, though, he said he’d seriously discuss with his family whether to pursue another opportunity or to retire.
$15MM is seemingly a more than reasonable price for a pitcher of Morton’s caliber. The 36-year-old (37 in November) only pitched to a 4.74 ERA across nine starts in 2020, but his underlying numbers were far more favorable. Morton’s 24.7% strikeout rate and 12.1% swinging strike rate are down a bit from his 2019 performance, but each mark remains a bit better than league average. Equally important, Morton’s 93.9MPH average fastball velocity is more than sufficient to continue to get outs, even if it’s down a tick from last season.
Of course, Morton has quite recently performed like one of the top arms in the game. He finished 3rd in AL Cy Young voting just last season on the heels of a 3.05 ERA/2.81 FIP over 194.2 innings. From 2017-19, Morton combined for a 3.24 ERA in 508.1 innings while holding opposing hitters to a .218/.296/.359 slash line. Even if one doesn’t expect Morton to return to those ace-like levels, he still looks like a strong mid-rotation starter. Surely, the Rays won’t overreact to a couple months of bad run prevention numbers, considering Morton’s other strengths.
That said, Tampa Bay perennially runs one of the lowest payrolls in the league, leaving the front office constantly on the hunt for advantages on the margins. Teams are also generally expected to curtail spending league-wide in the wake of massive coronavirus-driven revenue losses. That makes it difficult to bank on any team’s spending habits in the coming months.
I hope they pick up the option, as a Redsox fan, i like when the best rival teams are on the field, and Morton is terrific.
You’re a good fan then
Competition is good
Look at the central. They beat each other up and many thought at least one team would make a deep run. Don’t think any of them even won a game…
Close enough: 7 teams managed a total of 2 wins.
For a from memory guess, I’ll take it. Haha
Tampa Bay has a ton of young talent that could play together for several years and contend. That is a big IF though as the Rays have never had a payroll exceed $77M. As that talent matures and goes through arbitration and eventually free agency, it will take substantially more than $77M to keep this crew together. So will they do as they have in the past, start trading pieces off to keep payroll low? Or will they finally commit the payroll dollars needed to keep this band together? How they decide to handle Morton’s option could well signal whether it will be business as usual or the dawn of a new day in Tampa.
If Tampa would actually support the Rays maybe they could actually afford to increase payroll. When fans were allowed in stands it didn’t matter how good TB was you could still hear the same fan behind the plate because nobody else was there. Ownership isn’t cheap their hands are tied
They’ll surely nontender Renfroe
Yeah you’re probably right. Pulled him from the article, thanks.
God knows he’s been dreadful in the playoffs.
I know the Rays need to have one of the lower payrolls, and Covid has hurt the financial aspect of the game, but picking up Morton’s option looks like a very easy decision to me. No $ tied up long term, and you are getting a good starter.
Yes, Morton’s option must be picked up. So funny diehard Yankee fan rooting for the Rays. I can’t stand those cheatin’ ‘Stros. I can definitely tip my cap to Tampa they had a great season. I hope they make it to the World Series.
Even if they want to just trade him, no reason to decline that option imo
Not enough pitching available. Someone will pay him, even if Tampa won’t (they should but still). I agree with others, Should be easy call
Solid take. Even if they can’t afford it on a one year deal it has surplus value
Morton also said, if TB declines the option, he’s willing to negotiate another deal on different terms.
Charlie’s a bright guy; he wants to stay home, realizes all the Covid stuff, and understands TB’s ownership. My guess is that he re-ups at a lower rate than the option calls for.
TB and Pittsburgh, by my admittedly quick scan, seem both to have 16-18 Arb-eligibles, and may lead the league in that category. Both small market teams that are going to be killed, not by attendance issues (nobody goes to the Trop anyway), but by either the reduction or elimination of Revenue Sharing. Lots and lots of decisions, some ugly, coming.
Pittsburgh hasn’t used the revenue sharing properly to keep a competitive team on the field. What’s the point of having revenue sharing if very little is used to create a competitive market
And that’s the rub. And also why I think RS money is going to change dramatically with the new CBA. There’s little excuse, under the current parameters, for any team to have a less than 100M payroll; anything less is gouging.
And it works both ways. The Yanks watched the Rays celebrate their victory, no doubt less than excited that they pay a good chunk of TB’s bills.
Absolutely right! No reason a team should be under 100M payroll this day and age!
The Phillies wouldn’t mind a phone call from Charlie in late November.
Manuel?
Keep him. Retain him. Exercise yonder option.
Charlie, we hardly knew you. Come back to Philly. Our idiot GM, who let you walk instead of picking up your $8 million option and also gave Jeremy Hellickson more than twice than much ($17.4 million), has been demoted.
You’d fit right in with Nola and Wheeler.
I expect the Rays will pick up the option. If not, a reunion with the Braves?
Equally important, Morton’s 93.9MPH average fastball velocity is more than sufficient to continue to get outs, even if it’s down a tick from last season.
I wonder what the minimum average fastball velocity is where you can continue to get outs. Sounds like some vector calculus calculations are in order. That math helped me figure out why Dwight Gooden’s curveball lost its effectiveness after hitters knew what to look for at the release point. I remember doing the calculations with the son of a former major leaguer. Good times.
As long as it’s an effective change of pace to other secondary options with enough movement; plenty of guys have been effective in the upper 80’s. (Deceptive deliveries may also play a factor in some cases )
I hate to say it but I think Morton, KK and Renfro are gone. Next year’s team will be very different.
As much as I love Charlie, $15mm might be too much for the Rays. Perhaps $10 mm? Geez, I’d be happy as hell to have made that much in my lifetime! Yeah, I know…I’m not an elite baseball player. The fact is, Charlie will be a year older with somewhat declining talents. I think the Rays will be their usual frugal selves & use that money to wrap up some younger guys long-term (Randy Arozarena comes to mind!) along with signing some more tossed-away pitchers from other teams who will become super-stars with the Rays! ⚾⚾