Once the playoffs end, the Atlanta Braves will have some choices to make.
Whether or not the Braves hoist the World Series trophy, tough choices are on the way. The Braves will need to take a look at the starting rotation this winter as both Max Fried and Charlie Morton are going to hit free agency.
Fried will be one of the top options available and will be coveted by pretty much any contender looking to add a starter to the top of the rotation.
Morton will be a different story. He is 40 years old and will be 41 years old by the time the 2025 season rolls around. It's unclear if he will be pitching next year despite a solid 2024 campaign. He made 30 starts in the regular season for the Braves and logged a 4.19 ERA. Morton was dependable and was solid in 2023 as well, with a 3.64 ERA in 30 starts.
He has been a very important piece of the Braves' rotation, but it's unclear if he will return. If Morton decides to continue his career, he will hit the open market and has a very surprising market value right now. Spotrac currently is projecting his value to be $74 million over four years.
At 40 years old, there is no chance that he is signing a four-year deal with any team right now. A $74 million deal over four years has an $18.5 million per year annual value. Even that seems to be high. It's unclear what Morton's intentions are for the 2025 season, but if that is the price tag, Atlanta should look in a different direction.
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