ATLANTA -- Many names are being tossed about as potential trade chips for the Orioles, who could become sellers ahead of the July 31 Trade Deadline. The speculation has been rampant.
On the position-player side, there’s All-Star designated hitter Ryan O’Hearn, center fielder Cedric Mullins and corner outfielder Ramón Laureano. On the pitching side, there’s starters Zach Eflin and Tomoyuki Sugano, as well as relievers Seranthony Domínguez, Andrew Kittredge and Gregory Soto.
Another player on an expiring contract to possibly keep an eye on? Charlie Morton.
The 41-year-old Morton has turned back the clock in recent weeks, rebounding from a disastrous start to his first season in Baltimore. His run of success continued Friday night, when he returned to Truist Park in Atlanta and delivered another solid start in a 3-2 win over the Braves, his former team (2008, 2021-24).
Morton allowed two runs over 5 1/3 innings, his lone blemish being Drake Baldwin’s two-run home run with one out in the sixth. The veteran right-hander set season highs in whiffs (19) and curveball whiffs (12) while striking out seven during the 97-pitch outing.
“I felt good. I thought [catcher] Gary [Sánchez] did a great job. I think he had a really good feel for where those guys were at and made it a lot easier,” Morton said. “Nights like tonight, especially down here, it’s hot and humid. So yeah, sometimes I’ll get better, higher spin [rates] down here. But all in all, I felt like most of my stuff was working pretty well.”
Although Atlanta had runners on in each of the first four innings -- including men on first and second with no outs in the second, followed by second and third with one out in the third -- Morton navigated the traffic and looked comfortable in his old home ballpark.
“He threw the ball great,” interim manager Tony Mansolino said. “To come in here -- and there’s some pretty big names in that lineup, you know? -- in a tough place here and to throw the ball the way he did, it was great for us.”
The O’s offense backed Morton, who outdueled former teammate Spencer Strider. The Braves right-hander gave up a pair of homers -- a third-inning solo shot by Jordan Westburg (who collected three hits after missing the previous five games due to a left index finger sprain) and a two-run blast from Mullins in the fifth.
In seven starts since rejoining the Orioles’ rotation, Morton has pitched to a 2.97 ERA in 36 1/3 innings. It’s been a stark improvement from early in the season, when he posted a 9.38 ERA through his first nine appearances, with three of those coming during a move to the bullpen.
“You could see it was in there,” Westburg said. “Even early in the season, things just weren’t going his way, and I’m not going to sit here and pretend like I know what changed or what happened, but I had trust in him. I had faith in his ability and his stuff and just the makeup, the guy he is in the clubhouse.
“We’re all rooting for him. So for him to be pitching like he is, we’re all super excited and happy and grateful.”
The one obstacle to a potential Morton trade may be his salary. He signed a one-year deal worth $15 million in January, and a team could be asked to take on what he is still owed.
With how well Morton has been pitching, though, he might be worth that cost to a contender.
Of course, the Orioles (38-49) haven’t committed to operating as sellers yet (at least not publicly). General manager Mike Elias told MLB.com last Saturday that the club is still focused on trying to win this season and hasn’t reached the time to pick a strategy yet.
Does Morton still believe there’s time to sway the front office over the next few weeks?
“I hope so,” Morton said. “Ideally, you go on a run, right? You go on like a six-, seven-, eight-, 10-game winning streak. You just get really hot. ... I love the guys in here. I think it's a really special group. I feel like I'm really fortunate to be here in the room with these guys, and that's what I want. I want that to continue.
“But this time of year, shoot, like even if you're playing well, sometimes a room changes, and it's a hard thing. It's just part of the business, but it's still hard. But man, I tell you, the guys are working and they're grinding and they're trying to get better every day and win a ballgame every day.”