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New York Yankees rumors: Seven possible starting pitching options this offseason

By Paul Ashley

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 05: Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts as he pitches to the Atlanta Braves during the seventh inning in Game Two of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium on October 5, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 05: Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts as he pitches to the Atlanta Braves during the seventh inning in Game Two of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium on October 5, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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New York Yankees
HOUSTON, TX – SEPTEMBER 23: Charlie Morton #50 of the Houston Astros pitches against the Los Angeles Angels at Minute Maid Park on September 23, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images) /

Although the Houston Astros have a very impressive pitching staff, they may end up getting outbid when their pitchers reach the open market.

Charlie Morton may very well be one of those pitchers to soon receive a nice payday as he will be a free agent following the 2018 postseason.

After the Philadelphia Phillies acquired Morton from the Pittsburgh Pirates, he only made 4 starts.  This caused the Phillies to pay a $1,000,000 buyout instead of picking up a $9,500,000 team option.  The good news for Morton is that the Houston Astros took a chance on him.

They signed the veteran pitcher to a 2 year, $14,000,000 contract (with incentives) and he has been worth every penny.  In 2017, he played a large role in helping the Astros win a World Series Championship and in 2018, he earned his first ever trip to the MLB All-Star game.

In the 2017 regular season, Morton compiled a 14-7 win-loss record with a 3.62 earned run average (ERA), a 3.46 fielding independent pitching (FIP), and a 1.193 walks plus hits per inning pitched (WHIP).  He also pitched 146.2 innings, which were the most he has compiled since pitching 157.1 innings in 2014.

Morton also put together a 3.26 strikeout-to-walk (SO/W) ratio in 2017 to set a new career high.  His 163 strikeouts were also a new career high until the 2018 season.

In the 2018 regular season, Morton compiled a 15-3 record with a 3.13 ERA, a 3.59 FIP, and a 1.162 WHIP.  Through 167.0 innings, he struck out 201 batters compared to 64 walks.  Although his SO/W ratio dipped a bit to 3.14, his 201 strikeouts are an impressive new career high.

Throughout his 30 starts in 2018, Morton put together 18 quality starts.  He allowed 2 runs or less in 20 of his starts (2 starts were shortened at the end of the season for rest purposes).  He also only allowed more than 3 runs on four occasions with two 6 run outings, one 5 run outing, and one 4 run outing.

Morton has a good amount of experience in the postseason with both the Pirates and the Astros as well.  He has pitched a combined 29.0 innings in the playoffs with 23 hits, 10 walks, and 13 runs allowed.

Outside of a poor performance against the New York Yankees in the ALCS last season, he has been very solid in the postseason.  If the stats against the Yankees are removed, he would have a combined 20.1 innings pitched against the St Louis Cardinals, Boston Red Sox, and Los Angeles Dodgers.  In those innings, he gave up only 15 hits, 7 walks, and 6 runs.

Between his postseason experience, and his ability to produce quality starts, Morton would be a great addition to a Yankees rotation that often lacks consistency.

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