The Atlanta Braves face a difficult offseason this winter, specifically for their starting pitching rotation. The team’s ace, Spencer Strider, is still recovering from Tommy John surgery last season. Atlanta is watching left-handed pitcher Max Fried and veteran righty Charlie Morton head into free agency as well. The Braves are likely to be very aggressive in bringing Fried back, but to this point, they haven’t been vocal about bringing Morton back.

Still, MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand believes that Morton will be back in Atlanta in 2025, citing the Braves’ presumed inability to bring Fried back as a key reason for re-signing Morton. “Max Fried seems likely to move on from Atlanta, but the 41-year-old Morton doesn’t seem ready to retire, setting up a return to the Braves,” Feinsand wrote. “Atlanta has Chris Sale, Reynaldo López, and Spencer Schwellenbach atop the rotation, but Spencer Strider won’t be ready to start the season following last year’s Tommy John surgery. Newly acquired Griffin Canning will also factor into the rotation.”

Bringing Morton back isn’t a bad idea for Atlanta. He tossed 165.1 innings with a 4.19 ERA last year to earn his spot in the rotation in 2025. The veteran holds a 4.09 ERA in 139 career starts with the Braves. Spotrac projects Morton to land a one-year contract worth $17 million for next year. The Braves could likely get him at a small discount, but they should have no issue paying this for another 30 starts of solid production.