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Charlie Morton and the Atlanta Braves have agreed on a contract extension, it was announced today. The righthanded pitcher is getting $20 million for the 2022 season, with a $20 million team option for 2023 with no buyout.
Morton, 37, signed a one year, $15 million deal with the Braves this past offseason after spending the 2019-20 seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays. Morton has a 3.47 ERA and a 3.29 FIP in 156 IP for the Braves this year.
Morton was part of what was supposed to be a strong young rotation in Pittsburgh in the late aughts, along with Paul Maholm, Ian Snell and Zack Duke. That group never panned out, although Morton has seen his career blossom in his 30s after joining the Houston Astros.
Morton in recent years has expressed a preference for staying in the Eastern part of the United States, so locking up a big guaranteed payday while staying with a playoff team in the East makes sense.