The Atlanta Braves’ decision to part ways with veteran pitcher Charlie Morton this past offseason is looking smarter by the day. While many fans were initially upset understandably so, given Morton’s strong track record with the team the move now appears to be a savvy one.
During his time with Atlanta from 2021 to 2024, Morton delivered a solid 3.87 ERA over 686.1 innings, along with 771 strikeouts. Despite that success, his inconsistency last season raised red flags, especially as he approached his 41st birthday.
The Orioles took a gamble, signing Morton to a one-year, $15 million deal, but the results have been disastrous. He’s currently 0-7 with a staggering 9.38 ERA over 31.2 innings, leading the league in earned runs (33) and the American League in walks (22). His signature curveball once one of his most effective pitches has become a liability, with opponents hitting .357 and slugging .667 against it. His groundball rate has plummeted, and his breaking pitches are far less effective than in past seasons.
While Morton remains a respected clubhouse presence, his on-field struggles show that the Braves made the right call by moving on when they did. Unfortunately, it appears that time has finally caught up with the veteran right-hander.
