The Braves’ 2024 season came to an end last night, as they lost 5-4 to the Padres in Game 2. The injuries were simply too much to overcome, and a vital offseason awaits.
As has been the case in Atlanta in recent years, the club’s nucleus is expected to remain intact, but after three consecutive dismal early playoff exits, one has to wonder if Alex Anthopoulos will contemplate mixing things up. There are also a handful of elder players who will consider retiring, none more important than Charlie Morton.
After the Braves were eliminated, the 41-year-old spoke about his future, sounding like a man who realizes it may be time to focus on things other than baseball.
This isn’t much different from what Charlie Morton has stated after each season with the Braves, but his on-field performance suggests that the end of the road is much closer than it appeared in previous years. Over 30 starts, he produced a 4.19 ERA and a 4.49 FIP, his highest since 2010. His strikeout rate was 9.1 per nine innings, his lowest since 2015.
However, as Charlie Morton stated after the Braves clinched a postseason berth a few days ago, it was not quite awful enough to suggest he could no longer be a serviceable major-league pitcher.
Charlie Morton appears to have been hoping for the game to retire him in recent years so that he does not have to walk away himself, which is one of the most hardest things any professional athlete can do. This lifestyle is not easy on the players’ families, but it is also all Morton has known for nearly three decades.
Understandably, no decision will be taken today on his future. He’ll most likely take at least a few weeks, as he has in previous years, and some of that time may be dependent on the Braves. Morton has made it known how much he enjoys being in Atlanta, and if Alex Anthopoulos decides he wants him back for one more ride, I’m sure it will make his decision even more tough.
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