Veteran right-hander Charlie Morton has seemingly been mulling retirement for more than a half decade, but he’s continued his career on a series of one-year deals, leaving open the possibility that each successive year will be his last. That won’t be the case with 2024, however. ESPN’s Jeff Passan writes that Morton intends to suit up for an 18th MLB season next year.
Morton, who turns 41 today (happy birthday, Charlie!), has spent the past four seasons in Atlanta, anchoring the rotation as a durable innings eater amid frequent injury troubles throughout the rest of the starting staff. Despite those years representing his age-37 through age-40 campaigns, Morton has made at least 30 starts and pitched at least 163 1/3 innings each of the past four seasons. He’s provided more than just bulk work, as well; in 686 1/3 innings for the Braves, the grizzled righty has pitched to a sharp 3.87 ERA while striking out 26.6% of his opponents against a 9.3% walk rate.
The 2024 season wasn’t Morton’s best in Atlanta but was still a solid year all around. He logged 165 1/3 frames and turned in a 4.19 earned run average. Last year’s 23.8% strikeout rate was Morton’s lowest since his late-career breakout with the Astros, which began in his age-33 season, but it was still enough to check in about a percentage point north of league-average. Morton’s 9.3% walk rate was worse than average but marked an improvement over the career-worst 11.6% mark he turned in during the 2023 season. His 46.3% grounder rate was strong, and he generally did a fine job avoiding hard contact. It wasn’t the Cy Young-caliber performance Morton flashed in his 2018-19 peak, but it was a fine showing for a veteran third or fourth starter.
Logically speaking, a reunion with the Braves seems possible. Atlanta is looking for innings behind staff leaders Chris Sale, Reynaldo Lopez and Spencer Schwellenbach. Young ace Spencer Strider will miss the beginning of the season as he continues mending from last year’s UCL surgery. Longtime Atlanta star Max Fried is a free agent and seems likely to sign elsewhere on a contract beyond the Braves’ comfort zone. Morton has also been happy to pitch in the southeast region of the country, close to his young family in Florida.
On the other hand, the Braves are all but certain to pay the luxury tax for a third straight season this year. That’ll mean at least a 50% tax on any dollars over the luxury barrier, and perhaps more — depending on the extent by which they surpass this year’s $241MM mark. Morton earned $15MM from 2019-21 and has been paid $20MM in each of the past three seasons in Atlanta. Even if he’s likely looking at a pay cut from that level, he should still be able to land a salary north of $10MM, barring an unexpected discount to pitch in a locale of his preference. For an Atlanta club also looking to upgrade at shortstop and add to the bullpen in the wake of Joe Jimenez’s injury, a hefty one-year price tag on what’d be a fourth or fifth starter for them when or if everyone is healthy might be a bridge too far. Per RosterResource, the Braves’ current luxury projection is already at $228MM — just $13MM shy of this year’s threshold.
If Morton does end up leaving the Braves, it’s likely he’ll land with a contending club. At age 41, he’s unlikely to sign on for any rebuilding efforts or to mentor a group of young arms. He’ll look for an opportunity to pitch in the middle of what already looks like a postseason staff, adding some stability and significantly raising the floor of a new club’s rotation.
Morton would also have the chance to reach some more personal milestones; Morton is 12 wins shy of 150 in his career and would have a realistic chance at moving into the top-70 all time in strikeouts (he’s currently 82nd). With a strong performance in 2025, he could also nudge his career ERA under 4.00. He entered the 2024 season at 4.00 flat and raised it to 4.01 with this season’s 4.19 performance.
Decent 4.06 SIERA, slightly above league average. Could see some team taking a chance with him.
York – Well as they say, salt is really good at preserving so not surprised he’s still pitching.
@Fever Pitch Guy
Guy would look good in a Red Sox uniform. Probably be the ace of the team, given that Giolito is still recovering from injury.
Why wouldn’t he mentor younger pitchers? Seems like that’s exactly what teams would want him for. The ERA over 4 doesn’t exactly scream postseason rotation member.
I think he makes sense for the Nationals.
Because he wants a chance to win? Maybe a rebuilding club would want him, but he doesn’t have to pitch for anybody he doesn’t want to pitch for. It’s no sin to want to win and be close to your family. And, yes, contending clubs would want him for reliable innings at the backend of the rotation. I mean, how many rotations are out there who would have no room for Morton?
Are you saying some guys don’t want to win??? Pretty sure everyone wants to win. But he’s 41 he’s coming off a meh year and he wants to stay close to home. He might want to keep his options open. He would be an excellent mentor for a young staff the idea that he wouldn’t want to do that is silly and probably not true.
@ Blackpink in the area. Mmm, I don’t personally know Morton, but everything I’ve read points to him not being too far from home and being on a contender. Do you honestly know something different other than what you think he “should” do? At his age, he probably would want to spend more time on the home front than mentoring young pitchers on a losing team. The concept really isn’t that hard to gelrasp. And yes, most guys want to win, but you were the one who suggested he should be a mentor on a non-contending club.
The Nationals are going to contend in 2025 if they make a few big signings. Morton is going to go where someone wants him. I don’t think that’s the Braves. Marlins and Rays are probably out of the picture. There is a decent chance playing for the Nationals is the closest he can get to meeting his criteria. The article suggested he wouldn’t want to mentor younger guys but I don’t think he’s ever said that.
I think Orioles make more sense…..
@ jbigz12. I think so, too. The question is, will the O’s think so? Or Morton?
Another $20M, Charlie? “Sure, WTH I’ll do it.” Ahahaha!
not at $20mil, the real question is who will pick him up for his asking price.. ball is not in his court.
$20MM might be slightly high for Morton but not too far out of reach. The going rate for a No. 4 SP seems to be around $17-$19MM these days
I think Morton goes for $14MM if he wants to continue.
Would love him back in Houston but for some reason they believe they are deep in starting pitching
Unless the Astros sign him and trade someone else.
Alot of teams could use em, he takes the ball n eats innings. Someone will bite n can probably get em @discount rate. He would be good mentoring young Ps w/his vast knowledge n experience.
$3M deal and $9M upon retirement is a deal that works for both sides. It’ll hold Favre — err — Morton to his word.
The Salt Man is ready 2025! He’ll get another one-year deal as has been the case for a few seasons now. He’s been year to year at Atlanta if I’m not wrong.
One edit needed….Paragraph 4:
Morton has also been happy to pitch in the southwest region of the country, close to his young family in Florida.
should be:
Morton has also been happy to pitch in the southeast region of the country, close to his young family in Florida.
If Atlanta will just offer him a reasonable (not highest) contract, he will likely stay due to non-baseball factors alone. West of Mississippi teams are probably out except maybe Texas teams.
Wouldn’t mind him on a 1 year 17.5 mil deal for SD but I think they have sights set higher and for beyond 2025 due to Cease and King’s contract status. Crochet or Snell most likely on the radar.
As excited as Padres fans (me too) are for Salas, if he headlines a deal for Crochet, gotta pull the trigger for “right now”.
A #4 in Baltimore?
TOR guy?, GRod, Eflin, Morton, Kremer/Suarez.
One yr deal is right up Orioles front office back alley. And makes sense because of iffy return times of Bradish and Wells … and with all this righty angle staffing hopefully lefty Means.
Orioles would be a good match, but I thought maybe he’d end his career with a farewell tour in PIT. Problem there is the jury is still out on whether the Pirates intend to be GENUINE contenders in ‘25.
Didn’t the new Orioles owner, Rubenstein, come out saying he’s not getting any younger and was willing to spend money this offseason? If so, Morton is a good rotation piece for them as you have both mentioned.
Ground Chuck has had a fair career but one think he is noted for is he may have the record for hitting batters per inning pitched. He will get another contract for sure. He would make a good pitching coach.
You got it, I think he also set the record – not kidding – for most BB by a starting pitcher that was credited with the win (7 BB vs. NYM). Guy gives out free passes like it’s his last day on the job.
If the Rays play some regular season games in Port Charlotte or Bradenton,
Charley in for 10m plus a 2m buyout
I am a devout Braves Fan and I would love to have Charlie back, it will hurt me to see him pitch for any other team. AA please let Charlie retire as a Brave.
If Charlie will take $9m I’m sure AA would consider. Not sure the Braves have to fo more than this. They’ve got a few #4/5 starters in queue.
Back to the Braves surely
Rays will probably kick the tires again as long as his asking price is reasonable for Rays standards
Add Charlie Morton to the list of players/pitchers that the Pirates gave up on and became the better for it
If the Braves give Morton any more than $8m that will be a poor use of resources.
He should provide similar statistics as 2024 (maybe a little better)
Like a Team with very good defense.
Kind of like a solid #3 starter 70% of starts, some sub optimal)
Maybe have him limited to 145 IP,
Guess 1 year at 17M.
So many possible fits,
He might be too pricey for some teams that want to pay only 12M with incentives
I’d be happy for the Braves to bring him back at the right price and Braves fans needs to have the right expectation of that price. He’s worth about $8mil (according to FanGraph) last season and 1 year deals require a premium, so we shouldn’t pay any more than $10 million for his services. With that, the expectation to have a guy that stays healthy, eats innings, and pitches reasonable well as a #5 pitcher is totally worth $10 million. I’d be more than happy to have that on our team.
The problem with Morton is he keeps making these comments about only wanting to pitch near home and be close to family and retiring soon. And he likely isn’t gonna sign with a non-contenders, he lives in Tampa, they aren’t likely gonna sign him (plus their stadium situation kinda makes them a whole knows next season), he won’t pitch for the marlins I’m almost sure of it. So the Braves are pretty much it. So Braves kinda have the leverage here… they could do 1 years 8 mil with club option in year 2 with a low 1 mil buyout
Morton’s plan is to pitch long enough to prove Jamie Moyer was a quitter.
Reds? Back end starter, or more if Martinez is used as a reliever. Might be worth a shot.
No Worries.
If it doesn’t work out,
he can always fall back
to his……………………………………..
STEAKHOUSE BUSINESS !!
I still remember when Morton talked about retiring like 7 years ago (to spend more time with his family- the baseball equivalent of “irreconcilable differences”) I’ve marveled at his ability to use toying with retirement for about half his career now as a negotiating tactic.