Detroit Tigers’ Scott Harris ‘really excited’ about Chris Paddack
Detroit Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris talks to reporters July 28, 2025, about the Chris Paddack trade with the Minnesota Twins.
PHILADELPHIA — The Detroit Tigers added to their starting rotation at the buzzer.
The Tigers acquired veteran right-hander Charlie Morton (and cash considerations) in a trade with the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday, July 31, just moments before the 6 p.m. trade deadline. The 41-year-old becomes a free agent after this season.
To acquire Morton, the Tigers shipped Double-A left-handed reliever Micah Ashman to the Orioles.
Morton has a 5.42 ERA with 48 walks and 101 strikeouts across 101⅓ innings in 23 games (17 starts).
Since May 26, Morton owns a 3.88 ERA over his last 11 starts, a significant improvement from his nightmarish beginning to the season — a 7.68 ERA in his first 12 games, all of which resulted in losses for the Orioles.
He joins the Tigers’ starting rotation, becoming the fourth-best starter in a five-man rotation that is anchored by left-hander Tarik Skubal and also features right-handers Jack Flaherty, Casey Mize and Chris Paddack.
The Tigers opened a spot for Morton in the rotation by sending right-hander Troy Melton to the bullpen, just three days after Melton threw seven scoreless innings with zero walks and five strikeouts in his second MLB game.
In 2025, Morton mixes five pitches: curveball (38.5%), four-seam fastball (29.2%), sinker (14.3%), changeup (9.9%) and cutter (8.1%). His fastball averages 94.2 mph, and his curveball is his best weapon for whiffs.
He ranks above average in whiff rate (60th percentile, 26.5%) but below average in walk rate (21st percentile, 10.3%) and strikeout rate (47th percentile, 21.8%).
Before joining the Tigers, Morton pitched for the Atlanta Braves (2008, 2021-24), Pittsburgh Pirates (2009-15), Philadelphia Phillies (2016), Houston Astros (2017-18), Tampa Bay Rays (2019-20) and Orioles (2025).
Morton owns a 4.08 ERA in his 18-year MLB career.
He pitched for Tigers manager A.J. Hinch as a member of the Houston Astros in 2017-18, winning the 2017 World Series. He also won the World Series in 2021 with the Braves — and he made the All-Star Game in 2018 and 2019.
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Going to the Orioles, Ashman had established himself as one of the Tigers’ top relievers in the minor leagues in 2025.
The 22-year-old posted a 1.49 ERA with nine walks and 50 strikeouts across 42⅓ innings in 30 games. He made his first 28 appearances for High-A West Michigan before a recent promotion to Double-A Erie, where he pitched in his last two outings.
The Tigers selected Ashman in the 11th round of the 2024 draft out of Utah.
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