Call to the pen
Fansided

MLB Free Agency: The top 30 free agents for 2018-2019

By David Hill

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 26: Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) waves to the fans at Nationals Park after the game against the Miami Marlins was called due to rain. The players returned to the field to throw t-shirts and collectables after the final home game of the 2018 season. (Photo by Jonathan Newton / The Washington Post via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 26: Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) waves to the fans at Nationals Park after the game against the Miami Marlins was called due to rain. The players returned to the field to throw t-shirts and collectables after the final home game of the 2018 season. (Photo by Jonathan Newton / The Washington Post via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
(Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) /

13. Charlie Morton

There was talk that Charlie Morton would retire at the end of the 2018 campaign. Instead, he is coming back for at least one more season.

A back of the rotation arm prior to 2017, Morton signed a two year deal with the Astros after the 2016 season. His $14 Million salary raised a lot of eyebrows, but Houston was convinced they had something in the righty. It was just a matter of Morton being healthy and being able to tap into his potential.

He did just that in Houston. He greatly outperformed expectations during that contract, including a stellar 2018 campaign. Last year, he posted a 15-3 record with a 3.13 ERA and a 1.162 WHiP, striking out 201 batters with 64 walks in 167 innings. Morton set a career high in virtually every statistic last season en route to making his first All Star Game.

The question that teams have to ask is whether or not that success will translate away from Houston. Yes, Morton looked like an ace over the past two seasons, but nothing in his background gave any indication that pitcher was waiting to be unleashed. As it is, he is likely to return to Houston, as he has stated that he does not want to pitch anywhere else.

If he does get signed by another team, Charlie Morton would be a risky proposition. With the Houston Astros, he may just be getting started.

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