Orioles sign 41-year-old starting pitcher

On By Littum

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Scarred in trying to add a starting pitcher in his prime, the Baltimore Orioles selected the ultimate veteran presence to smooth out their rotation.

Charlie Morton, 41, and the Orioles agreed to terms on a one-year, $15 million contract Friday, the club announced, as the two-time World Series champion returns for his 18th major league season.

While Morton won’t automatically step into his rotation spot, he’s apparently a replacement for All-Star Corbin Burnes, who signed a $210 million contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks last month, a salary stratosphere the Orioles weren’t expected to reach.

Instead, for the fourth year in a row in this contention window, they will spend a similar amount on a one-year commitment for a veteran arm. Jordan Lyles (2022) gave way to Kyle Gibson and then Craig Kimbrel in 2024 when the Orioles needed a replacement for injured closer Felix Bautista.

Now they will try to match either the 91 wins they achieved with Burnes or the 101 they achieved in 2023. While much of that will have to do with offensive consistency, Burnes’ departure and the midseason or later return of right-hander Kyle Bradish and Tyler Wells from elbow surgery created immediate needs.

Morton, the hero of Game 7 of the 2017 World Series and also a World Series winner with Atlanta in 2021, will try to fill it. He has a lifetime record of 138-123 and pitched 165 ⅓ innings for the Braves last year, posting a 4.19 ERA.