Alex Anthopoulos stayed relatively quiet during the winter, much to the frustration of Braves fans, who were eager for him to strengthen the pitching staff. With injuries depleting the rotation, fans have seen far more of Bryce Elder than they expected in 2025. Despite the pitching struggles, the Braves have managed to keep winning recently. As May approaches, Anthopoulos will likely continue to search for arms that can contribute innings, which is why they brought in Ian Anderson as insurance while in Colorado.
Given the team’s recent tendency to bring back former players, some fans have suggested a reunion with struggling veteran Charlie Morton. However, this is a move the Braves front office should avoid at all costs.
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Morton, now with the Orioles, has been one of the worst pitchers in the league to start the 2025 season. His numbers are disastrous: a 9.45 ERA, 6.53 FIP, 2.18 WHIP, and -1.1 bWAR. He leads all pitchers with 28 earned runs allowed and 21 walks. Though he can still throw a curveball and his fastball velocity remains just below average, there’s no sign that Morton’s performance will improve. Unfortunately, his struggles suggest that an earlier retirement might have been a wiser choice. While the Orioles are sticking with him for now, they may need to cut ties if his performance doesn’t improve before the All-Star break.
For the Braves, adding Morton would be a disastrous move. While the team is desperate for pitching, Morton is no longer the solution they need, either in the rotation or the bullpen.
