The Orioles have added a 17-year MLB veteran to their rotation.
Baltimore signed right-hander Charlie Morton to a one-year contract, the team announced Friday.
The Post's Jon Heyman confirmed that the deal is worth $15 million.
The move came a week after the Orioles lost ace Corbin Burnes to the Diamondbacks, who sent him to Arizona in a $210 million contract, but the team made a “competitive bid” to keep him. Although I made an offer, The Baltimore Banner reported.
The Orioles aren't likely to get the kind of results they got from former Cy Young Award winner Burns in Morton, but they are getting a reliable right-hand man.
Excluding the coronavirus-shortened 2020 season, Morton has pitched at least 146 innings every year since 2017 and leads the majors in games started in 2021 (33 innings).
Last season, his 40th year with the Braves, Morton pitched 165 1/3 innings with a 4.19 ERA, 4.46 FIP, and 167 strikeouts.
fan graph project him He can pitch 154 innings next season, which is something the Orioles desperately need in 2024 when their staff is reduced due to injuries.
At this point in his career, he relies primarily on his breaking ball. Ranked in the 83rd percentile on Statcast Run value of breaking balls pitched with a probability of 42% or more.
Starters Kyle Bradish, John Means and Tyler Wells all suffered elbow injuries that required surgery last season, and Grayson Rodriguez (right latissimus dorsi/teres) was injured in August and missed the playoffs. did.
The Orioles are hoping for another strong showing in October with a healthier rotation after being swept by the Royals in the wild-card round.
