As the trade deadline nears, the list of pitchers connected to the Boston Red Sox continues to grow — and a veteran arm just entered the mix.
While much of the speculation has focused on high-end targets like Arizona Diamondbacks ace Zac Gallen, Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Freddy Peralta, Miami Marlins star Sandy Alcantara and Minnesota Twins standout Joe Ryan, Ken Rosenthal added a new wrinkle during FOX Sports’ Home Run Derby pregame coverage.
“I’ll give one name that might be interesting: Charlie Morton,” Rosenthal said. “Horrible start to the season. But in his last 59 innings, 3.05 ERA. He and Alex Cora know each other from Houston — 2017.”
That Houston connection could be meaningful.
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Cora, then the Astros’ bench coach, was by Morton’s side during the right-hander’s late-career resurgence. Now 41, Morton signed a one-year $15 million deal with the Baltimore Orioles in January. After a rough start — 0-6 with a 10.36 ERA across his first six outings — Baltimore transitioned him to the bullpen on April 30.
Since the start of May — as Rosenthal noted — the veteran has started to resemble his old self. He owns a 5-1 record with a 3.18 ERA and 62 strikeouts across 13 appearances since May 1.
For a playoff-hopeful team like the Red Sox, Morton offers a unique mix of postseason experience, familiarity with Cora and what could be a low-cost acquisition. Of course, prying him away from the division rival Orioles would not be simple.
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Rosenthal’s name-drop may not be a signal of anything imminent, but with Boston’s October ambitions growing, it is a fit that cannot be dismissed.