It is hard to imagine a season in which the Atlanta Braves' decision to part ways with both Max Fried and Charlie Morton ages worse. Not only did the franchise opt not to re-sign two franchise cornerstones no moves were made to replace the lost production.
This has been glaring both due to Atlanta's struggles and due to the majority of the rotation currently occupying the IL. Only Spencer Strider remains healthy out of established options. Things are so dark that the Braves have turned to Erick Fedde and Carlos Carrasco to attempt to make it through the rest of the season.
Fried has thrived with the Yankees, enjoying one of the best seasons of his career. Leaving Morton, who has been dealt to the Detroit Tigers in an effort to cement the bottom of the rotation. Braves fans understand the value of adding the veteran, even if the production isn't reaching the veteran's prime seasons. Morton is a World Series champion who has consistently been an important leader for postseason contenders. Detroit is a young team looking to take a step beyond the first round and make a true postseason run.
Charlie Morton is going to the Tigers, per source.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 31, 2025
Former Braves Starter Charlie Morton Finds New Home
Morton is in the middle of a tough season but has remained productive in stretches. What version of the 41-year-old pitcher is going to show up on the mound is a bit of a coin flip. Still, Atlanta fans understand better than anyone the value of adding Morton to a young team looking to take a step in the postseason. Detroit spending a middling prospect to add the former Brave is going as one of the deadline's more underrated moves.
It will help the Tigers eat innings and lean on the leadership of a player who has experienced every possible variation of a playoff run. Detroit's top-of-the-rotation arms haven't faced the pressures of the type of postseason run the franchise expects to make. Adding a veteran who brings value beyond the numbers.
With that said, Morton's stats are heading in the right direction with far more quality starts over the last two months of the season. Baltimore was forced to put the veteran in the bullpen early in the season, but since returning to the rotation in the middle of May, Morton has been well above average and could easily make an argument to become the team's fourth postseason option. No question, it's a win for the Tigers and a reminder of Atlanta's awful offseason.