Following Charlie Morton’s most recent start and the Orioles‘ 24-2 loss, many fans are questioning the recently signed veteran’s spot in the rotation. The 41-year-old boasts a 10.89 ERA through his first 5 starts following being signed to a one-year, 15-million-dollar contract.
3-29 vs Blue Jays, L 2-8
– 3.1 IP, 7 Hits, 1 BB, 4 Earned Runs
4-3 vs Red Sox, L 4-8
– 5.0 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 10 SO
4-8 vs Diamondbacks, L 3-4
– 5.0 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 5 BB, 4 SO
4-15 vs Guardians, L 3-6
– 5.0 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO
4-20 vs Reds, L 2-24
– 4.2 IP, 7 H, 7 ER, 7 BB, 2 SO
He has given up 8+ baserunners in each game and has yet to enter the 6th inning in a game this year. He has a -1.1 bWAR, meaning he is costing the Orioles 1.1 losses compared to a replacement-level player.
Morton was brought on to the Orioles as a veteran who could eat innings to ease the load of the bullpen and other starters.
With injuries to key starters Grayson Rodriguez, Kyle Bradish, Zach Eflin, and Tyler Wells, as well as an injury to bullpen arm Andrew Kittredge, providing innings is very important.
Instead of providing much-needed innings pitched, Morton’s struggles to go deep into games have put an increased load on the Orioles’ pitching staff.
What makes Morton’s struggles especially damaging is that he was supposed to bring a known commodity. He is a long-time veteran and earned his 15 million dollar contract to be a consistent pitcher in the rotation.
However, that is exactly what he has not been. He’s taken a solved problem to a problem that is much worse.
He may be falling off from old age. Only time will truly tell but the signs certainly aren’t up.
Orioles fans let Morton hear it as he walked off the mound Sunday, booing the veteran pitcher after another disappointing start. Instead of heading to the dugout, he went straight to the clubhouse, a move that didn’t go unnoticed by the Camden Yards crowd.
Frustration wasn’t limited to the ballpark. Online, fans blasted not just the veteran but general manager Mike Elias for offering a $15 million deal to a pitcher many believed was on the verge of retirement.
Safe to say that fans are not happy.
Orioles have 12 losses. 5 of those are just Charlie Morton starts. 8-7 is still not up to the Orioles’ expectations this season, but it’s much better than 8-12.
Only being a one-year contract, it begs the question of when to just DFA Morton. When will it not be worth it anymore?
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