As had been speculated quite a bit since news of his designation for assignment and subsequent release by the Detroit Tigers, the Atlanta Braves are indeed bringing starting pitcher Charlie Morton according to multiple reports. What is unknown, according to multiple reports including MLB.com’s Mark Bowman, is if that means Morton will pitch again this season or retire (or speculatively speaking, possibly attempt to return in 2026).
Earlier this afternoon, the team announced that it had added reliever Joel Payamps off waivers from the Milwaukee Brewers and designated fellow reliever Connor Seabold for assignment. Seabold was himself a waiver claim from the Tampa Bay Rays in August.
Payamps, 31, was not effective this season, but has been in the past, so this is another flier on an arm that might be back on at least a Spring Training invite in 2026.
The big news here is Morton, who is one of the most respected players in the game. Drafted by the Braves, he debuted in 2008 before being traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates. He returned to Atlanta in 2021 – famously recording a strikeout in the World Series after having his leg broken by a line-drive – and pitched with the organization through last season.
He joined the Baltimore Orioles to start the 2025 season before being traded to the Tigers. He lost his spot in the rotation with Baltimore earlier in the season, but re-found his form and rotation spot pitching effectively into the Summer. That production declined after joining the Tigers, who cut ties with the veteran after his poor start against the Braves on Sunday.
The Braves play the Pirates in the final series of the season, so if this were to be the swan song for Morton, it would come playing for and against the two teams with whom he spent 12 of his 18 big league seasons.
