BALTIMORE — Veteran right-hander Charlie Morton and the Baltimore Orioles agreed Friday to a one-year contract worth $15 million.
Morton, 41, the hero of Game 7 of the 2017 World Series with Houston, will try to fill a hole in Baltimore’s rotation. This will be Morton’s 18th season in the major leagues.
The Orioles also signed 35-year-old Tomoyuki Sugano of Japan to a one-year, $13 million contract this offseason. Baltimore lost its 2024 ace in Corbin Burnes, who signed a $210 million contract with Arizona last month.
Morton has a career record of 138-123. He pitched 165 1/3 innings for Atlanta last year, going 8-10 with a 4.19 ERA.
He is one of four pitchers to make at least 30 starts in every full season since 2018 (not counting the pandemic-shortened 2020 season), joining José Berríos, Patrick Corbin and Aaron Nola. Over the last four years with the Braves, Morton went 45-34 with a 3.87 ERA.
In addition to the Braves and Astros, Morton played for Tampa Bay, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
To make room on their 40-man roster, the Orioles designated catcher René Pinto for this mission.
Orioles general manager Mike Elias has a history of signing veteran starters on one-year deals. Burnes was acquired in a trade from Milwaukee before last season. Elias signed Kyle Gibson in 2023 and Jordan Lyles the year before.
The Orioles have made the playoffs in each of the last two seasons, but were swept each time in their opening series.
