Morton returns to Atlanta
There are still a lot of unknowns regarding the 2021 Major League Baseball season with COVID-19 continuing to wreak havoc across the globe. However, that hasn’t stopped teams from preparing for next year by building competitive squads.
Despite coming within one win of the World Series last year, the Atlanta Braves knew they need a stronger and more consistent pitching rotation if they have any shot of winning baseball’s ultimate prize. As a result, they went out and inked free agent Charlie Morton to a one-year $15m deal.
Morton was originally drafted by the Braves’ organization in the third-round of the 2002 MLB Draft. He also made his big-league debut with Atlanta on June 14, 2008 but was eventually to the Pittsburgh Pirates in June 2009.
“I don’t remember a whole lot about it,” Morton said of his first stint with the Braves, via ESPN. “I was only with the Braves in the big leagues for about four months.”
Even though most players and coaches from Morton’s original time with the franchise are gone, the 37-year-old is excited but what he has seen.
“This is as talented a group as you’re going to find,” he said. “I’m excited to get in that clubhouse, be around them and get to know them.”
Morton made no secret about his desire to return to Tampa Bay where he had spent the last two seasons playing, but the Rays had declined his $15m option and he become a free agent. He wanted to remain close to his home in Bradenton, Florida.
“My hope was that we could stay close to home,” Morton said. “The situation in Tampa was awesome.”
Atlanta general manager Alex Anthopoulos reached out to the veteran as soon it was known he was available, and Morton decided the time was right to return to Atlanta.
“They were aggressive early,” Morton said. “They were one of the first teams to call. Alex was checking in frequently.”
Since being traded to Pittsburgh in 2009, Morton has spent time with the Philadelphia Phillies, Houston Astros and the Rays. He won a World Series with the Astros in 2017 and was named to the All-Star team in both 2018 and 2019.
He started nine games for Tampa Bay last season, posting a 2-2 record with a 4.74 ERA. He joins a young squad in Atlanta who is looking to take the next step after winning three consecutive National League East titles. The Braves also went out and acquired free agent Drew Smyly to help bolster their pitching depth ahead of the 2021 campaign.
Along with Max Fried, Ian Anderson, and Mike Soroka, the Braves have one of the deepest rotations in all Major League Baseball. It will be fun for fans and neutrals alike to watch youngsters like Anderson and Soroka continue to develop and feature in crucial games for Atlanta.
“They’ve got some really good pitchers,” Morton said. “I didn’t realize how young they were. I looked them up and I was like, ‘Dang.'”
