BALTIMORE — The Baltimore Orioles have secured veteran right-handed pitcher Charlie Morton with a one-year contract worth $15 million, which was announced on Friday. The 41-year-old Morton, who made a significant impact by leading the Houston Astros to victory in Game 7 of the 2017 World Series, aims to strengthen the Orioles’ pitching lineup as he embarks on his 18th season in Major League Baseball.

This offseason, the Orioles also brought in 35-year-old Japanese pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano, signing him to a one-year deal valued at $13 million. This recruitment comes after the Orioles lost their ace from 2024, Corbin Burnes, who recently signed a mammoth contract for $210 million with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Morton boasts a career record of 138 wins and 123 losses. In the previous season, he logged 165 1/3 innings while playing for the Atlanta Braves, finishing with an 8-10 record and a 4.19 ERA. Notably, Morton has been a consistent performer, being one of only four pitchers to make at least 30 starts in each full MLB season since 2018, not counting the pandemic-affected 2020 campaign. The other pitchers who achieved this feat include José Berríos, Patrick Corbin, and Aaron Nola. Over his last four seasons with Atlanta, Morton accumulated a record of 45 wins and 34 losses alongside a 3.87 ERA.

Beyond his time with the Braves, Morton has had stints with several other teams, including the Tampa Bay Rays, Philadelphia Phillies, and Pittsburgh Pirates.

In a strategic move to create space on their 40-man roster, the Orioles designated catcher Rene Pinto for assignment. General Manager Mike Elias is known for his pattern of acquiring veteran pitchers on short-term contracts. Last season, Burnes was obtained in a trade from the Milwaukee Brewers, while Kyle Gibson was signed in 2023 and Jordan Lyles the previous year.

The Orioles have reached the playoffs in the last two seasons but have found themselves eliminated in the first round both times, seeking to advance further in the coming seasons.