Today was a busy for the Phillies with the Ken Giles to the Astros trade becoming official, designating a couple of players for assignment, and then trading for right-handed pitcher Charlie Morton. The Phillies and Pirates agreed on a deal to send Charlie Morton to Philadelphia for 23-year old right-handed pitcher David Whitehead. It was more of a salary dump type for the Pirates because Morton is slated to make $8 million this year, which is the final year of what was a 3-year, $21 million contract. This move also clears up the clutter in the rotation for the Pirates, who just acquired Jon Niese from the Mets making Morton expendable.
Morton, 32-years old, has shown flashes of productivity, but has been hindered by many injuries leading him to be very inconsistent. In the past 5 years, Morton has had Tommy John Surgery and surgery on both hips. He started 2015 on the disabled list as he tried to refine his delivery and find a more consistent outcome. Morton made 23 starts last year going 9-9 with a 4.81 ERA and 96 strikeouts in 129 innings. Morton should find himself the Phillies rotation come Opening Day unless one of the younger pitchers beat him out.
Whitehead, 23-years old, was drafted by the Phillies in the 34th round of the MLB Draft in 2013. Whitehead spent his time last year in Single-A Clearwater and went 9-11 with 4.44 ERA with 94 strikeouts in 135 2/3 innings.
To make room on the 40-man roster, the Phillies designated righty deliver AJ Atcher for assignment and then they designated right-handed pitcher Dan Otero for assignment to open up a spot for Vincent Velasquez and Brett Oberholtzer. Both Atcher and Otero were claimed off waivers by the Phillies earlier this offseason. Matt Klentak continues to make a lot moves this season and this one isn’t anything spectacular, but it adds a veteran arm to the rotation and having leadership with a young team is always important.
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