CLEVELAND-What happened? A week from now, the trade deadline will be over, and the Orioles will know what their team will look like for the final two months of the season.
Charlie Morton, who started in the Orioles’ 4-3 win over the Cleveland Guardians before 26,223 at Progressive Field on Thursday, might get another opportunity to pitch for the Orioles before the 6 p.m. July 31st deadline.
The 41-year-old right-hander also could be dealt before Tuesday, when he’s next slated to start. Morton has been traded twice in his 18-season career, but never at the trade deadline.
“I don’t know, because I don’t know what the outcome is going to be,” Morton said. “I think that you owe it to the guys in the room, you owe it to the organization, you owe it to the city, to be bought into where you are, to give as much of yourself as you can, to be as genuine and open and vulnerable as you can in a room full of guys you don’t know.”
Before the game, the Orioles learned that Félix Bautista, their outstanding closer, was headed to the 15-day injured list with right shoulder discomfort. Bautista missed all of the 2024 season because of Tommy John surgery.
With Bautista out and Yennier Cano and Andrew Kittredge unavailable because they’d pitched in two straight games, Morton equaled a season-high by throwing 6 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on five hits, walking four and striking out seven. He threw 107 pitches, more than he’s thrown in any game this season.
“I went to Charlie after the sixth,” interim manager Tony MansoIino said. “I asked him what he wanted. He was at 93, 94 pitches right in there. It was a hot day. He had kind of grinded there for a little bit, a couple of innings. Had he not wanted to come out in the seventh, we would have gone to the ‘pen…It was a non-issue with Charlie. Charlie wanted out there in the seventh, so we gave it to him.”
Morton appreciated that Mansolino conferred with him.
“I have a lot of respect for Tony and managers that do that, that have those conversations,” Morton said. “They want to give you the chance to plead your case or they genuinely just want you to go back out there and try to do it for yourself and the team. And I love that.”
Steven Kwan homered twice against Morton (6-8) and after he walked, Mansolino summoned Corbin Martin, who retired Angele Martinez on a foul pop to end the seventh.
The Orioles (45-57) avoided being swept in a four-game series since August 16th-19th, 2021.
They scored three runs in the first against Logan Allen (6-9).
Ramon Laureano tied Jackson Holliday for the club lead with 14 with a two-run home run. Ramón Urías’ RBI double made it 3-0.
The Guardians (51-51) scored twice in the third on Kwan’s home run and Nolan Jones’ sacrifice fly. Kwan’s second home run tied it at 3 in the fifth.
The Orioles took a 4-3 lead in the seventh when Gunnar Henderson’s single scored Alex Jackson, who doubled.
Seranthony Domínguez allowed two hits and struck out two in a scoreless eighth. Gregory Soto pitched the ninth for his first save, striking out two and getting the final out on an outstanding play by third baseman Ramón Urías.
What does the trade deadline mean? Players, managers, fans and the media are preoccupied with the July 31st trade deadline.
Mansolino has answered questions about it for several weeks, and he has six days worth of games before the deadline. He made his feelings known about Morton.
“I think in any business, whether it’s baseball or the real world, the real business world, I think stability is kind of king,” Mansolino said. “So Charlie brought a lot of stability to us over this time. I don’t know how much longer we’re going to get that stability out of him. Hopefully, he stays. If he doesn’t, then somebody else will have to step up and continue the stability that he’s brought us.”
Morton gets emotionally attached to teams, but he’s realistic.
“I think you develop deeper relationships, more meaningful relationships, and I certainly have experienced that in several places, and this is no different,” he said. “So, I mean, the circumstances, too. I think it makes it tougher, because I look back, and knowing what I’m capable of doing, and knowing that I failed for a decent stretch in the beginning of the season, and I know I let a lot of people down, and I know that it was difficult and it caused, I’m sure in large part, a lot of the difficulty that has happened with the team.”
Soto came to the Orioles at the trade deadline last season, and he’s been mentioned in talks, as well.
“Well, I can’t control that,” Soto said through a team translator. “What I can control is going out there, doing what I did today, doing my job. If they ultimately decide to make a decision where they trade me, perfect, let it be.”
What does it mean? Morton is 6-1 with a 3.81 ERA over his last 10 starts since May 26th, and that makes him a valuable trade piece.
What’s the stat of the day? Kyle Freeland, Antonio Senzatela and Austin Gomber, the three pitchers scheduled to start for Colorado this weekend, have a combined record of 6-27.
What’s the word? “We had a manager fired. We had stretches that were really difficult in terms of losing, personally, as a group. And through that, I think you do create a deeper bond with the guys in the room, if you let yourself.”-Morton on what he’s experienced with the Orioles this season.
What’s going on in the minor leagues? The Orioles signed high school outfielder Slater de Brun, the 37th overall pick. According to MLB.com’s Jim Callis, de Brun signed for $4 million, well above the $2,631,400 slot value for that pick. The Orioles have signed their first 14 picks in the draft. The deadline for the Orioles to sign their picks in rounds 11-20 is Monday at 5 p.m.
What’s next? The Orioles will open a three-game series with the Colorado Rockies on Friday night at 7:05. Dean Kremer (8-7, 4.06) will face Kyle Freeland (2-10, 5.19)
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