Charlie Morton has gotten off to a horrendous start with the Baltimore Orioles, leading to questions about the veteran's job security. In his first three starts, Morton wasn't missing many bats and wasn't able to eat innings as the former Brave has done in recent seasons. While we are still very early in the season, if this level of struggle continues, it wouldn't be surprising to see the Orioles move on from the veteran.
Morton is 41 and has been defying Father Time for far too long already. With the innings Charlie pitched in Atlanta, it is very possible this is the end of the road for the veteran.
However, if the Orioles did opt to move on, the Braves shouldn't hesitate to view the veteran as a potentially cheap reclamation project. Morton's best season with Atlanta was in 2021 when the starter was a defining piece of Atlanta's World Series run. As the pitcher has aged, Morton still carried underrated value as an innings-eater at the bottom of the rotation.
Charlie Morton Could Still Be an Upgrade Over Grant Holmes & Bryce Elder
It is important to note that while this is an incredibly clear fit it is completely speculative. Not only does it require the Braves to still need a starter in two months, it also means the Orioles have given up on Morton or fallen out of the postseason race. Still, a reunion with Morton can't be written off as Braves fans have been given a great look at what the veteran has brought to the table in the last two seasons.
Yes, at times, the starts were frustrating, and the pitcher is no longer a top-of-the-rotation starter. Morton's value in the twilight years of his career is as a reliable innings-eater who rarely has dealt with serious injuries in recent seasons and is going to give you a predictable level of production.
While Atlanta fans are watching Morton's current level of production, there is no denying that the starter is missed. If there is a path to bringing back the starter to complete the team's rotation, it could be a great midseason move for both sides. Regardless of whether Atlanta considers this, it is clear that Baltimore's patience with Morton is quickly wearing thin if things don't take a drastic turn over the next handful of starts.