Reports indicate the Braves signed Charlie Morton to a one-year, $15 million deal. I think this is a great move for Morton, and it’s the type of deal the Braves like:
Atlanta’s strategy of targeting high-dollar free agents on one-year deals, which has been largely successful under president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos, has been repeated with Morton and Smyly, who signed for $11 million. Atlanta could see its latest triumph in that group, slugger Marcell Ozuna, leave via free agency this winter.
ESPN.com
Morton plays 2021 as a 37-year-old. A multi-year contract at this point would likely come with big salary deflators to make up for the likely decline by the pitcher. By going year to year, Morton will get whatever he is worth. So if he has another good four years, he would likely make a lot more money that signing a long-term deal now.
We also don’t know what free agency will look like with a new CBA in place, and this short-term deal would also allow Morton to take advantage of any changes that are favorable to the players.
Another point in favor of deals like this for older pitchers is that they decline or get injured, they can choose to retire and won’t feel obligated to rehab. Everyone is different (see Verlander, Justin), but for some guys I’m guessing they know they won’t mentally want to do the rehab to come back.