In a somewhat surprising move this winter the Tampa Bay Rays signed Charlie Morton to the largest free agent contract in the franchise’s history. The Rays signed him to lead a young pitching staff to the playoffs.
Morton rewarded the Rays with the 17th most productive season in major leagues with 6.1 fWAR and was the most valuable free agent signed last winter. When the Rays needed a stabilizing force in the rotation he has been everything they could have dreamed for and more. He set career bests in innings (194.2), strikeout rate (30.4%), WHIP (1.08), ERA (3.