The veteran hurling could be mulling playing at least one more season.
Charlie Morton could be open to returning to the mound in 2025.
MLB.com’s Mark Bowman, in his article published earlier today, suggests that the 17-year veteran – who will turn 41 in less than two weeks – could look to continue pitching in 2025.
Morton, who debuted with the Atlanta Braves in 2008 and returned to the team as a free agent in 2021, has been open about his desire to remain close to his family and weight those considerations carry as it regards to the continuation of his big league career.
Bowman suggests a reunion with the Braves could be viable.
Morton was a league-average starting pitcher for Atlanta in 2024 but he gave the team 30 starts and 165 innings. Those two numbers were almost identical to his 2023 season. Although he saw a dip in his K/9 and an increase in his home runs allowed he did reduce his walks. He also saw a reduction in his fastball velocity but the spin rate on his curve ball is still elite. All totaled, FanGraphs saw him worth 1.1 fWAR in 2024.
While he is no longer the top-of-the-rotation starter he was five years ago, he would add depth to Atlanta’s rotation with Max Fried’s return doubtful and Spencer Strider recovering from “Tommy John” surgery.
Bowman touches on the possible return of other Braves free agents – including A.J. Minter – as well as the which players could see their options exorcised.
Morton’s situation bares keeping an eye on as MLB’s hot stove starts to be fired up in November.