The Braves addressed their rotation when they signed left-hander Drew Smyly to a one-year, $11MM contract last week. But that may not be it for Atlanta, which has “strong interest” in free-agent right-hander Charlie Morton, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com.
Signing in Atlanta would be a full-circle move for Morton, who was a third-round pick of the team in 2002 and someone who made his major league debut with the club in 2008. Morton then moved on to the Pirates and Phillies from 2009-16, but he didn’t turn into a high-end starter until ’17 as a member of the Astros. Since then, Morton has been a terrific regular-season pitcher and a lights-out playoff performer. The 37-year-old owns a 3.34 ERA/3.27 FIP with 10.64 K/9, 2.98 BB/9 and a 48.4 percent groundball rate through 546 1/3 innings over the past four seasons.
Morton has said in the past that he would like to stay on the East Coast, which could benefit the Braves if they do earnestly pursue him in free agency. And even after signing Smyly, there’s still room for at least one more proven rotation acquisition. Along with Smyly, the Braves have Max Fried, Mike Soroka and Ian Anderson as set starters for next year, but there is space for a wily vet like Morton.
is Soroka still on track for opening day?
I don’t know who has the bigger question mark about opening day: Soroka or MLB.
go on?
I doubt they will push him to make Opening Day, but since he is throwing (via his IG) at the stadium today, who knows? It looks like he is giving OD his best shot – I’d expect nothing less from him.
Good one. Sad but true.
Soroka. MLB will happen in 2021.
enough already. Such BS.. It’s people like you that keep this unnecessary crap going on. I just watched OU- OK St. over the weekend and there were at least 30 grand in the stands with no problem at all. Your boy won the election, it’s time for the sniffle bug to go away.
Bigot!
Bigly *darn autocorrect
Neil watching a Oklahoma game is the new sailor kissing a nurse in Times Square. People, we are all good! Neil saw 30k on the TV!
We are all good dumb ass. You can test this garbage any other year and there will always be some kind of flu bug going around. Doesn’t mean you have to shut down the world. You’re being controlled on purpose in case you didn’t know. Nothing was said in 2017-2018 when there were at least 650,000 dead people from the flu that year. They could do this every year till the end of time if they wanted to.
I think you were right the first time retire21.
What a moronic response.
It’d be really nice if we could leave political posts for somewhere else. We have what we have, and MLB is going to follow the guidelines, whether you believe they’re necessary or not.
How is it moronic? The kung flu is only dangerous to the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions. If you’re at risk, stay home. Otherwise, nothing to be cared of. Bring on the season!
All good…and on point
It sure sounds as if you are saying, keep those elderly and preexisting condition people isolated from anyone else for as long as it takes. There are more important things than their well-being. Like sports.
Well said, and I agree…
Is the earth flat too?
If you put your hands over your eyes, are you invisible?
Correct…. we have what we have….. however, it is funny how all these cry babies where on here saying there wouldn’t be a season last year. They were mad. I mean flat out angry if you disagreed. They made it personal, just if you wanted to see a season. If you wanted to play you were the devil. We all remember.
Then, when they did play it was supposedly no way they would finish the season. It’s that same negative doom and gloom that them people spit that does nothing positive for the game or our country. They were wrong twice and they will be wrong about next year too if they wanna doubt that. Remember, the ones who gets the most coverage are often the loudest. Doesn’t mean they are correct.
Oh I didn’t know pandemics were political
Not even remotely close… cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/past-seasons.html
I’d rather have a power bat to protect Freeman in the lineup. Maybe they are planning on having Duvall hit behind him. I just don’t see them running away with the division without a bat to replace Ozuna.
Same, McGriff. They can audition 5th starters. Auditioning middle of the order bats often doesn’t go well.
Hard to imagine any team in baseball not interested in Charlie Morton.
Morton good pitcher
He’s staying in Florida or retiring.
thanks for telling us yourself Charlie
Well this didn’t age well lol
Please do. This would give them a legit rotation.
Soroka
Fried
Morton
Anderson
Smyly
Uncle Charlie might leave TB… idk why I’m a rats fan?
Neither does Willard.
I thought he was affectionately know as Ground Chuck?
Morton could be the missing piece. Sorokoa, Fried, Morton is pretty scary.
Add Anderson to that mix, honestly the kid hasn’t given us any reason not to trust him.
Be interesting to see what the 5th spot will go too. I’m rooting for Wilson personally as I think he has the most upside (yes I get wright might) but I think it’s Wilson and that’s just my opinion. Smyly will be in that mix and would be an awesome #5. I mean, we would very quickly be talking about a possible 6 man rotation.
Great way to solidify the rotation
Question. Will the Braves pass on Ozuna and if so, who will replace him on the roster?
They could replace him with a cheaper power bat. Brantley or Pederson could be had for way cheaper. I think adding a TOR guy like Morton is the most important thing. Maybe add brad hand or melancon and we’re golden
Could depend. If DH stays I see them getting outbid so I’d imagine a Nelson Cruz type. I see a perfect fit with joc Peterson he could platoon perfect with Duvall, more righties then lefties in in the league for starters joc mashes righties and Duvall only has ever hit lefties.
I don’t think they’ll pass, but they might be outbid. I don’t think they should break from their comfort zone for him. I want him back, but the team has other needs. Of course, if the status on the DH was known now that we’re in the off season, maybe they could justify more $ to him.
There are three big questions to be answered.
The first question is which Ozuna shows up? The one who played mediocre with the Cardinals or the one who excelled with the bat in the shortened 2020 season?
The second big question is do you trust Ozuna as your everyday outfielder if the DH isn’t in the NL?
The third big question is does Ozuna’s 2020 success price him in such a way that the costs from signing him mean you aren’t able to make other additions that you need? (Pitching, Freeman and/or other extensions)
Although there was plenty of outcry from braves fans to re-sign Josh Donaldson I’m glad they didn’t. Sometimes the best moves are the ones you don’t make (looking at you Craig Kimbrel).
AA makes the big bucks and hopefully he’ll earn them well this off season.
I hope we get him, but look… I’m sold on Wilson being in the rotation. Especially after what he did to the Dodgers. We have to give him a longer look. He just hasn’t been given enough of an opportunity in my humble opinion. If we get Morton, that rotation is pretty stacked suddenly. Wright prob needs to be in the minors to season up a little, leaving smyly and Wilson duking it out for the 5th spot right? I’m bullish on Wilson and have been since we drafted him … I feel like the kid is gonna lock down the backend of the rotation in a big way
They didn’t sign smly for 11 million $ to battle Bryce for a rotation spot but I like Wilson as well and don’t think he’s been given a real chance.
I agree.
Lights out in the playoffs? That’s funny as i seem to remember him getting beat up at least twice this past playoffs.
Morton would be the veteran anchor the Braves were hoping Hamels would be
Rays decision to decline the option was so weird, could pick it up and shop him if they wanted.
But risking a good pitcher walking for nothing over $15 million just seems needlessly cheap.
Rays need to move. Can’t afford Morton on a reasonable contract, can’t afford a decent catcher and willing to trade Snell at 3 / $39MM. Three financially driven situations that are ridiculous for a team as competitive as they are.
Bad stadium, inadequate fanbase to sustain MLB level talent and subpar media contracts. Bad for MLB. Act in the best interests of baseball and move the team.
Tropicana Field is also on the wrong side of the bridge. Might be easier to make a go of it.
I love how I leave for a day and literally all the fun topics of this off-season come up while I’m gone lmao. Even a Lance Lynn article was up yesterday… which I obviously would’ve been all over… My luck lol. Ok, let’s get back to the rumors of some random minor leaguer wanting to sign with an NPB club.
Smyly and Morton will make Braves fans forget about Ozuna. So will Pache.
Not at all. Who protects Freddie in the lineup? The offense will suffer horribly without Ozuna. Morton started to show his age some last yr. I like Morton but if its an either/or situation, Ozuna is more important.
Who wouldn’t be interested in Morton? The real question is which teams are Morton interested in?
As as Phillies fan this makes me gag… but it’s honestly a perfect fit with Braves.
This only means he will not be a Brave!
Reverse psychology. I see you!
$11 million for Smyly? Wow missed that gross overpay.
Morton lives in NJ. Good luck outbidding Stevie Cohen and the Mets. The man has unlimited money.
Nothing guarantees the Mets are interested in Charlie or that Charlie is interested in the Mets.
Thanks for the luck.
Yeah I kinda jinxed that one, didn’t I….next time I know to keep my mouth shut
The assumption that the Mets will now outbid everyone is humorous.
Morton to the Braves.
Morton would give the Braves a very promising starting 5 heading into next season. If they can add Morton and keep Ozuna, they’ll be elite.
Mets gonna win the NL East in 2021. Already have a solid performer in the field everywhere except catcher. Hello, J.T. Realmuto. New ownership will assuredly spend big cheese. Hello, Bauer, Springer or maybe a trade for Lindor.
All the Mets have to do is stay completely healthy. But that’s something they haven’t been able to do since 1962. Still, they’re gonna win at least 95 games.