The Braves had three marquee free agents coming into the winter and have now watched all three — Max Fried, Charlie Morton, and A.J. Minter — sign with other clubs.

Fried agreed to a record-breaking contract with the Yankees, a price the Braves were never going to come close to. Minter signed a two-year, $22 million deal to join the Mets. The contract included a player option after the first year, something the Brave never include in their contracts.

But more surprising than those, Morton inked a one-year, $15 million free agent deal to join the Orioles, a pact many believe the Braves could’ve and should’ve done. For a durable back of the rotation arm, that’s the going rate, but apparently, the club never offered Morton a deal.

“After thoroughly enjoying the past four seasons in Atlanta, Charlie Morton hoped to finish his career with the Braves. But after the 41-year-old decided early in the offseason that he’d like to keep pitching and not retire, there was no offer from the Braves,” David O’Brien of The Athletic wrote.

It’s a bit surprising because the Braves need stability in the rotation, and that’s what Morton has been for years. Multiple reports suggested the club was interested in bringing the veteran back to Atlanta, so it’s shocking to hear O’Brien report they never even offered Morton.

Over his four seasons in Atlanta, Uncle Chuck went from a frontline starter, toeing the rubber in World Series Game 1, to a back-of-the-rotation arm that gave the Braves stability when injuries struck.

He made at least 30 starts in each of his four seasons, totaling 686.1 innings and a 3.87 ERA, though he did struggle at times in 2024, going 8-10 with a 4.19 ERA in 30 starts. One thing Charlie Morton knows and fans should begin to learn, nothing is promised, especially with the Atlanta Braves and Alex Anthopoulos.

“All I know is that nothing manifested with the Braves,” Morton said. “And I’ve been in the game long enough to know that there are myriad factors that could contribute to something like that.”

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