After being designated for assignment by the Detroit Tigers, pitcher Charlie Morton is returning to the Atlanta Braves.
Morton, 41, is signing with the Braves, the team announced Monday. Manager Brian Snitker announced the move to reporters but added that he’s not certain if Morton will pitch for the team in their remaining six games.
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The 73-83 Braves will finish the season with three-game series against the Washington Nationals and Pittsburgh Pirates, both at home.
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Morton was acquired by the Tigers at the MLB trade deadline but didn’t provide the boost or veteran stability Detroit was seeking. He compiled a 7.09 ERA in nine starts, allowing 31 runs and 40 hits in 39 1/3 innings. He also struck out 47 batters, which would appear to indicate that he can still get major-league hitters out, though perhaps not often enough.
“There was some concern about him being able to locate his pitches, which is the issue with him in his last few outings,” Tigers manager AJ Hinch told reporters, via MLB.com. “When we started to wonder about his strike-throwing, it became questionable on how we can deploy that.”
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The Tigers are at risk of missing the postseason entirely after a second-half collapse (26-33) in which their 15.5-game lead in the AL Central has been reduced to one game over the Cleveland Guardians. Morton joins the Braves after they swept a series against the Tigers at Comerica Park over the weekend.
Previously, the right-hander pitched four seasons for Atlanta after signing with the team as a free agent. He logged a 4.09 ERA and 49-42 record while striking out 9.7 batters per nine innings with the Braves. Following the 2024 season, he signed with the Baltimore Orioles in free agency. In 23 appearances (seven starts), he registered a 5.42 ERA with 101 strikeouts in 101 1/3 innings before being traded to the Tigers.
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Altogether, Morton has played 18 seasons in the major leagues, also pitching for the Pirates, Philadelphia Phillies, Houston Astros (also managed by Hinch) and Tampa Bay Rays. He has a career 4.13 ERA, 147-134 record and strikeout rate of 8.7 per nine innings.
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