The Atlanta Braves signed right-handed pitcher Charlie Morton to a major league contract on Monday with one week left in the season.
Morton, 41, began his big-league career with the Braves and spent five of his 18 seasons in Atlanta. This year, he has pitched in 32 games (starting 26) for the Baltimore Orioles and Detroit Tigers and posted a 5.89 ERA.
It is possible Morton is preparing to retire as a Brave. But manager Brian Snitker told reporters Monday that the Braves “don’t really have a plan” for Morton yet.
“I talked to him Saturday afternoon … It wasn’t even on the radar,” Snitker said.
That’s because the Tigers designated Morton for assignment Sunday, two days after he was shelled by, of all teams, Atlanta. He gave up six runs on five hits in 1 1/3 innings.
The Braves (73-83), who will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2017, end the season with a six-game homestand against the Washington Nationals and Pittsburgh Pirates.
In 415 career games (408 starts) for seven clubs, Morton is 147-134 with a 4.13 ERA. He was an All-Star in 2018 with the Houston Astros and 2019 with the Tampa Bay Rays.
Morton won World Series titles with Houston in 2017 and Atlanta in 2021. He went 7-5 with a 3.60 ERA in 18 playoff games (17 starts).
