MLB Trade Deadline Mock: Baltimore Orioles Deal Charlie Morton To San Diego Padres

Veteran starter Charlie Morton may be available for a low-level prospect at the MLB trade deadline, offering backend rotation help to the San Diego Padres.

Baltimore Orioles pitcher Charlie Morton (50) delivers in the first inning against the New York Mets at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. | Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images

For a major league team looking to take a flier on a questionable arm at the trade deadline, Charlie Morton of the Baltimore Orioles can be had for a low-level prospect. He’ll turn 42 in November, and free agency next year may lead to no interest and a ticket to retirement.

The Trade Market For Veteran Charlie Morton

Without better command, Morton can’t have success with his fastball. His secondary pitches can get swing and misses, supported by his strikeout rate (10.1) in 2023 and over the previous seven seasons (84-42 with a 3.55 ERA and 1,250 strikeouts over 1,067.1 innings). He battled home runs in three (1.5, 1.3, and 1.4 per nine innings) of his past four seasons. Home plate now requires MapQuest on too many pitches (4.1 walks per nine over the last three seasons). A decline in control and home runs allowed scream game over for his career.

This year, Morton pitched poorly over his first five starts (25 runs, 31 hits, five home runs, and 15 walks over 20.2 innings with 21 strikeouts). He revived his season over his following 15 games (3.30 ERA, 1.293 WHIP, and 67 strikeouts over 62.2 innings) after demotion to the bullpen. His right arm backed up again over his last three appearances (13 runs, 21 hits, five home runs, and 10 walks over 18.0 innings with 13 strikeouts). 

Charlie Morton, 3261 RPM Curveball. 🌪️

7th K pic.twitter.com/qtcZw6ThA5

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 24, 2025

Morton still has an above-average four-seamer (94.2 mph), but only his curveball is an edge pitch.

The only MLB franchises that should be interested in him at the trade deadline are teams looking for a viable backend inning-eater with a chance to win one-third of their starts.

Baltimore Orioles - San Diego Padres MLB Mock Trade

Orioles Receive

Henry Baez

Padres Receive

Charlie Morton

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At the very least, Morton can’t be any worse than Yu Darvish. Since returning from the injured list, he has allowed 17 runs, 21 hits, two home runs, and nine walks over 16.2 innings. 

Baltimore should target SP Henry Baez for Charlie Morton. He crawled onto the Padres’ 40-man roster last November to avoid being drafted in the Rule-5 Draft. Over 21 starts this season at AA, Baez has a 1.92 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and 90 strikeouts over 98.1 innings.