Title: Baltimore Orioles Opt for Cautious Signing of Charlie Morton After Corbin Burnes' Departure
Title: Baltimore Orioles Opt for Cautious Signing of Charlie Morton After Corbin Burnes' Departure
In the twilight of 2024, the Baltimore Orioles bid adieu to their partnership with Corbin Burnes, much like the New York Yankees had with Juan Soto. Although Burnes didn't earn Soto-like pay, he still landed a handsome six-year, $210 million deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks, allowing him to remain close to home.
The Orioles' parting with this prominent free agent could signal various responses. The Yankees swiftly moved on, securing Max Fried with an eight-year, $218 million contract, and adding Cody Bellinger and Devin Williams via trade, along with Paul Goldschmidt on a one-year, $12.5 million deal.
Baltimore followed suit only a week later, signing Charlie Morton to a one-year, $15 million deal. This transaction is seen as more of an expansion of options, with hopes of additional acquisitions, rather than a full-blown shift from losing Burnes.
The Orioles boasted an impressive rotation in 2024, starting 10 pitchers besides openers, and boasting a collective ERA of 3.77. Only the Seattle Mariners, Kansas City Royals, Atlanta Braves, and Detroit Tigers had better numbers. The Orioles' 62 wins from their starters placed them third in the majors behind the Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies.
Burnes, with 15 victories and 63 earned runs in 194.1 innings, certainly contributed to these stellar numbers. Restricting the evaluation to the remaining players, Baltimore's pitching isn't as illustrious. The team's collective ERA jumps to 4.01, landing in the middle of the league.
Zach Eflin, a dependable veteran picked up from the Tampa Bay Rays, and the promising Grayson Rodriguez, who has won 20 games in the last two seasons, are Baltimore's main ace candidates. However, Rodriguez's availability was limited to 20 starts and 116.2 innings during that same time frame.
Morton, a 41-year-old pitching legend, possesses an impressive track record. The seasoned pro has thrown 328.2 innings in the past two years and has made at least 30 starts in every full season since 2017, an achievement matched only by Jose Berrios, Patrick Corbin, and Aaron Nola.
Morton's postseason expertise is another valuable asset. The two-time World Series champ looks forward to helping his new team advance, particularly after the Orioles' disappointing Division Series and wild-card losses in 2024.
Whilst Morton is not the undisputed top of the rotation like Gerrit Cole or the Red Sox's new recruit Garrett Crochet, he is a solid middle-of-the-rotation pitcher whose record suggests he can contribute positively. The Orioles now find themselves tasked with locating an adept replacement for Burnes, though their past reliance on veteran pitchers like Jordan Lyles and Kyle Gibson has shown promising results.
Bye, six months later, the Orioles brought in Tomoyuki Sugano on a one-year contract. Sugano, six years younger than Morton, has a decorated career as the Yomiuri Giants' ace. The All-Star has exhibited an average fastball of 92 mph and strong command during his 12-year tenure in Japan.
Morton, largely known for his curveball, employed the pitch 42% of the time during 2024, notching 102 strikeouts and limiting opposing batters to a .200 average. Although the curveball's velocity isn't among the highest, averaging 94 mph in the past two seasons, has resulted in hitters batting .281 and .292 over that span.
Morton and Sugano, embodying modesty, hold considerable value, particularly in the wake of losing a seasonal ace. They are not the headline-grabbing signings the Yankees are often linked with, yet organizations like the Orioles frequently look to secure experienced talent to supplement their rosters.
The Baltimore Orioles' acquisition of Charlie Morton in free agency was seen as an expansion of their pitching options, rather than a full-shift from losing Corbin Burnes. In contrast, the New York Yankees, after parting ways with Juan Soto, strengthened their roster by signing Max Fried, acquiring Cody Bellinger and Devin Williams via trade, and adding Paul Goldschmidt. The Baltimore Orioles, in a similar move, signed Tomoyuki Sugano to a one-year contract, bringing in another experienced pitcher to supplement their roster.