Baltimore Orioles Officially Move Veteran to Bullpen

The $15 million man has struggled to produce as Baltimore hoped he would when they signed him, but those struggles have really only come as a starter. Out of the bullpen, Morton has pitched much better. He still has not been great, but he has been better.

As a starter this year, Morton has pitched to a 10.89 ERA across 20.2 innings in five starts. As a reliever, the veteran has pitched to a 4.50 ERA across six innings in two appearances.

His best outing of the year, starting or out of the pen, came on Tuesday as an innings eater in a blowout. In a game the Orioles would lose 15-3, Morton came on in relief on only two days' rest, pitching 2.1 innings, while allowing only one unearned run on three hits and one walk and striking out two.

Hyde made sure to point out that the team has not "closed the door on [Morton] being a starter again," but his role is slightly different now. 

While it is not entirely new to Morton, it is something that he has not done very often in his career. This is his 18th season in MLB, and he has pitched in 390 games in that time, with 387 being starts. Only three times has Morton pitched in relief, and two of those came this year.

At one time, Morton was one of the better starting pitchers in MLB. That time has since passed, but maybe the veteran can find success again as a full-time reliever. 

When all is said and done, Morton could become another Jamie Moyer if he gets back on track out of the 'pen.