Charlie Morton could have been a free agent after the 2014
season. Instead of doing that he signed
a 3 year contract with the Pirates with a club option for a 4th
year. The price a modest, in baseball
terms, $4 million in 2014, $ 8 million in 2015, $ 8 million in 2016, and $9.5 million
+ $500,000 in potential incentives ($1 M buyout) in 2017.
Last season Morton was 7-4 with a 3.26 ERA after rejoining
the team in mid-season. His 6.6
strikeouts per 9 innings was the 2nd best of his career, just below
his 6.7 rate in 2010. The governing
thought on TJ surgery is that a pitcher usually returns to full form the year
after he return so, if that holds true, Morton should be better in 2014. Of course, nothing is guaranteed.
It is also important to look forward. Francisco Liriano and Wandy Rodriguez are in
the last year of their contracts and neither a lock to be back in 2015. That would leave Morton as the experienced
pitcher on a young staff unless they Pirates bring in a veteran FA.
This looks like a good economic deal for the Pirates. Some
of this years signing for comparison: Nolasco 4 years, $49MM, Haren 1 year, $10MM, Johnson 1 year, $8MM, Hughes 3 years, $24MM, Kazmir 2 years, $22MM,
Hudson 2 years, $23MM, Feldman 3 years, $30MM.