The MLB trade deadline is upon us and the Houston Astros figure to be heavily involved. The Astros remain one of the best teams in the American League and in first place in the AL West Division. But to stay there they may need to add an impact bat or a starting pitcher to not only get them to the playoffs, but make a deep run when they get to October.
For players on the team, it’s an exciting but nerve-racking time. While they could stick around to see what new face walks through the clubhouse doors, they could also be the player that’s shipped out to make the trade happen.
That’s the scenario involving a former Astros pitcher that had some of his best years in Houston and could be a coveted commodity as Thursday’s deadline approaches.
Former Astros Pitcher Charlie Morton Could Be on the Move at MLB Trade Deadline
Houston was an important place in Charlie Morton’s career and it could set the stage for another change of address ahead of the MLB trade deadline. Morton has had a dreadful season with the Baltimore Orioles, going 6-8 with a 5.48 ERA but the 41-year-old’s recent performance could have him on the radar of contending teams looking to upgrade their rotation down the stretch.
Morton was largely a middling pitcher before coming to Houston in 2017, posting a career 46-71 record and 4.54 ERA in his first nine seasons with the Atlanta Braves, Pittsburgh Pirates and Philadelphia Phillies. His decision to sign with the Astros before the 2017 season not only got him a World Series ring, but it also opened the door to a second act.
Morton discovered his potential, going 14-7 with a 3.62 ERA as part of an Astros team that won the World Series in 2017. He returned the following year to earn his first All-Star appearance while going 15-3 with a 3.13 ERA. According to ESPN’s Eddie Matz, the Astros helped Morton rely more on his curveball and elevated four-seamers to spark the change and Morton responded with a 29-10 record and 3.36 ERA over those two seasons.
That stretch helped Morton become one of baseball’s most reliable pitchers. He logged over 160 innings in each of the next five full seasons and another 38 during the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign. He also made another World Series appearance with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2020 and pitched on a broken leg as part of the Atlanta Braves team that won the World Series the following season.
If you need an arm, Morton will be there. But the biggest question is if he still has something left in the tank. After signing a one-year deal with the Baltimore Orioles, Morton posted a 10.89 ERA in his first five starts before being demoted to the bullpen. After regaining his velocity as a reliever, Morton returned to the rotation in late May and has gone 6-1 with a 3.81 ERA in his last 10 starts. But he still has underwhelming metrics including an average exit velocity of 90.8 mph and a 10.3% walk rate according to Baseball Savant.
There is some risk with acquiring a 41-year-old but there’s some upside as a player that’s won a pair of World Series rings. A veteran ringer could be something the Astros’ rotation could use to stay afloat and it may not cost much for a team looking to make a postseason run.