Atlanta Braves Agree to Rich One-Year Extension With Charlie Morton

 

At 37 years old, and coming off a season in 2020 with a 4.74 ERA, it's hard to say how much the Atlanta Braves really expected from Charlie Morton when they brought him in this season on a one-year, $15 million dollar contract. But it's safe to say at this point, they got a lot more than they bargained for. 

Today, the Braves have given Morton a $5 million dollar raise, re-signing him to a $20 million dollar contract for 2022, with a team option for another $20 mill for 2023. 

Charlie Morton will return in 2022.

The @Braves extended the veteran star on a 1-year, $20 million contract with a 2023 club option. pic.twitter.com/p7Jnix1kam

— Bally Sports: Braves (@BravesOnBally) September 6, 2021

Morton has turned out to be the ace of the Braves staff (apologies to Max Fried), compiling a 13-5 record with a 3.47 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and 10.5 K/9. It took him a while to get acclimated in his return to Atlanta 13 years after he began his big league career there. He struggled to a 5.08 ERA in his first 8 starts of the season, and had some wondering if he was reaching the end of a wonderful career.

But Morton has more than made up for that slow start, posting a 2.95 ERA in his last 20 starts, with an 11-3 record. He also is among the league leaders in many categories, including strikeouts (185, tied/5th); wins (13, tied/4th); and innings pitched (158, 8th).

Morton is a two-time former All-Star, and finished 3rd in Cy Young voting with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2019. 

He'll be 38 by the time next season rolls around, but after posting a combined 3.36 ERA over the last 5 seasons, Charlie Morton just keeps on rolling himself. 

Photo Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports