Overview
- The team announced Morton’s DFA on Sunday and selected right-hander Tanner Rainey to the 40-man and active rosters.
- Morton logged a 7.09 ERA over nine starts with Detroit, including an 11.65 ERA in his last five; he struck out 47 and walked 23 in 39 1/3 innings.
- He was tagged for six runs in 1 1/3 innings in Friday’s 10-1 loss to Atlanta, a low point that highlighted persistent command trouble.
- Manager A.J. Hinch met Morton off site for nearly two hours and, citing strike-throwing concerns, decided against converting him to relief.
- The move comes during a slide of seven losses in eight games that cut Detroit’s AL Central lead to 2.5 games, and Morton called the outcome “heartbreaking” while saying he is not expecting anything regarding his future.