Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Source: Morton and Rays agree on $30M deal
LAS VEGAS >> The Tampa Bay Rays are perfectly comfortable putting relief pitchers on the mound to begin games. But the chance to add an All-Star to their patchwork rotation, that was too good to pass up.
Coming off a career-high 30 starts, Charlie Morton reached a $30 million, twoyear contract with the Rays, a person familiar with the agreement told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity.
The 35-year-old Morton was a first-time All-Star last season when he went 15-3 with a 3.13 ERA for Houston.
Morton helped the Astros win their first championship in 2017. He started and won Game 7 of the AL Championship Series against the Yankees, then was the winning pitcher in Game 7 of the World Series against the Dodgers with four innings of relief.
“He’s a good pitcher,” Boston president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said. “You never like to have good pitching come into the division, prefer they go somewhere else.”
Morton’s success came after a career that had been beset by injuries and inconsistency. He’d undergone Tommy John surgery and was just 4671 with Atlanta, Pittsburgh and the Phillies before going to Houston.
Nats send Roark to Reds
LAS VEGAS >> The Washington Nationals traded Tanner Roark to the Reds for another right-hander named Tanner, less proven Tanner Rainey.
There have been only a handful of big league players over the years with the first name of Tanner, and this was the first time two of them got traded for each other.
The 32-year-old Roark led the National League in losses last season, going 9-15 with a 4.34 ERA. He is 64-54 in six years, all with Washington.
Roark made $6,475,000 last year and is eligible for arbitration. He can become a free agent after next season.
Rainey, who turns 26 on Christmas Day, made his big league debut last season. He didn’t have a decision and posted a 24.43 ERA in eight relief outings for the Reds.
Bour, Angels reach deal
LAS VEGAS >> A person with knowledge of the negotiations tells The Associated Press that free agent first baseman Justin Bour has reached a deal with the Los Angeles Angels.
The deal is pending a physical.
The 30-year-old Bour hit 20 homers and drove in 59 runs with the Marlins and Phillies last season.
He batted .227 combined over 141 games, missing time with an oblique strain.
Bour will provide depth while stars Albert Pujols and Shohei Ohtani work their way back from season-ending surgeries last year.
Mercer, Tigers agree LAS VEGAS >> A person familiar
with the negotiations says shortstop Jordy Mercer and the Detroit Tigers have agreed to a $5.25 million, one-year contract.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Wednesday because the agreement was subject to a successful
physical.
Mercer had spent his entire seven-season big league career with Pittsburgh. The 32-year-old hit .251 with six homers and 39 RBIs, down from 14 homers and 58 RBIs in 2017.
His agreement was first reported by Fancred.