Charlie Morton is set to be a free agent after this season. However, it could make sense for the Tampa Bay Rays to bring him back.
The Tampa Bay Rays were the surprise winners of the Charlie Morton Sweepstakes following the 2018 season. The then 35 year old righty was coming off a career year in Houston, making his first All Star Game appearance and leading the American League in winning percentage. The Rays handed Morton a two year deal worth $30 million, hoping that season was not a fluke.
For 2019, that investment paid off. Morton was everything the Rays hoped for, posting a 16-6 record with a 3.05 ERA and a 1.084 WHiP. In his career best 194.2 innings, he struck out 240 batters while issuing just 57 walks. Morton made his second All Star Game, and finished third in the AL Cy Young vote.
In theory, the Rays were going to have Morton for just those two years. He had been contemplating retirement, but signed with the Rays because they were relatively close to his family. He would then be able to watch his children grow, having gotten that one large payday to ensure future generations would be set for life.
Then 2020 happened. The ongoing pandemic has essentially put Major League Baseball in an ongoing holding pattern, with questions as to whether or not the season will actually occur. While the players and owners both seem to desire a return to the diamond, the two sides are a universe apart in how to make that happen.
We have already seen players that had been considering retirement after the season change their mind. Longtime Royals outfielder Alex Gordon, for example, said that this was not how he wanted his career to end. Perhaps Morton will have the same change of heart, looking to have at least one more season before hanging up his cleats for good.
If Morton does change his mind, the Rays should look to bring him back. The rotation, in theory, should be strong, with Blake Snell as the ace and Tyler Glasnow healthy once again. However, there are plenty of question marks, especially in the back of the rotation. Bringing Morton back would allow Tampa Bay to have another year of development with those pitchers, making certain that they are ready to start before being handed a full workload.
Charlie Morton is set to be a free agent after the season. If he still wants to pitch, it would behoove the Tampa Bay Rays to bring him back for one more year.