Astros sign Charlie Morton to 2-year, $14 million deal

The Astros have signed right-hander Charlie Morton to a 2-year, $14 million deal, a source has confirmed to SB Nation. The deal can max out at $19 million if all performance bonuses are reached.

Morton will receive $625k for 15, 20, 25 and 30 starts in each of the next two seasons, meaning there are $2.5 million available in performance bonuses each season. His base salary is evenly split, as he will receive $7 million in each season.

Morton is the first major addition for an Astros team that is expected to very busy this winter, and will, if healthy, immediately slot into a rotation that includes Dallas Keuchel, Collin McHugh, Mike Fiers and Lance McCullers. Houston is also expected to add a big bat this winter, and has expressed some preliminary interest in free agent Edwin Encarnacion.

Morton, 33, hit free agency after the Phillies declined his $9.5 million mutual option for next season. He missed all but four starts last year due to a a torn hamstring that required surgery after being traded from the Pirates to the Phillies in mid-December.

Morton is a veteran of nine major-league seasons with the Braves (2008), Pirates (2009-15) and Phillies (2016), and owns a career 46-71 record and 4.54 ERA in that span.