A short-term Cubs rotation fix might be hiding in the last place you'd expect

One thing is very clear: the Chicago Cubs will be pursuing starting pitching hard all season. All avenues will be explored, from waiver claims to trades. There is a reality, though, is that landing a big fish most likely not happen until we get closer to the July 31 deadline. That does not mean the Cubs will wait to bring in more starting pitching before then, but it does indicate their next moves could be on the less exciting side.

One name that could be kicked around is 41-year-old veteran righty Charlie Morton, who is currently pitching for the last-place Orioles. Morton has pitched in the Majors for 18 years and is a career 4.07 ERA, 3.86 FIP, 1.3 WHIP, pitcher with 2,099 strikeouts, 814 walks in 2,179.1 innings.

Morton is one of those guys who has just been able to stick around. Outside of the COVID-shortened 2020 season, he has made 30+ starts in each year going back to 2018. Every time one might think he is on his way out, he grinds away and stays in the league. Heck, he did not make his first All-Star team until he was 34. When he turned 40 last year, he posted a respectable 4.19 ERA and 9.1 K/9 in 30 starts for the Braves. He's been the definition of a workhorse over a solid career.

Recent changes have gotten Charlie Morton back on track

One can look at his season stats with the Orioles and easily say "no thanks," as he has a 6.20 ERA, 5.23 FIP, and 1.6 WHIP in 53.2 innings. He got off to such a brutal start that he was sent to the bullpen for a bit, but he has made some adjustments and has worked his way back into the Orioles' rotation. Since being initially sent to the pen, he has a 3.27 ERA, 4.43 FIP, and 31 strikeouts over his last nine appearances. Morton returned to the rotation on May 26 and in two starts is 2-0 with two earned runs given up in 12.2 innings.

It is a small sample size, and Father Time will prevail at some point, but this could be a realistic early option. Morton can still throw a mid-90s fastball and mix in a cutter, slider, curve, and offspeed stuff. While not the 26-29 percent strikeout pitcher he once was, he is still striking out roughly 21 percent of hitters. The real question is whether his recent solid work is a trend or if his early-season struggles are a sign of things to come. If he pitches the way he has recently, Morton could be a potential addition to the rotation who can go out and be trusted to take the ball every five days and give a team some innings.

Is this your primary solution? Not at all. Is it exciting? Also no. It's not even an idea I am adamant about the Cubs pursuing. As mentioned before, arm shopping at this point of the season is most likely not garnering a big name. Every year, teams acquire varying types and qualities of arms, including the fringe mediocre ones, to stock up on bullets. It's more important than ever with the nature of pitching in the current baseball climate. Especially if you already have significant pitching injuries, which the Cubs unfortunately do.

Sometimes a flier on a struggling or aging arm pans out nicely for a few months down the stretch, it happens every year. Even if they are just eating some innings and doing just enough to keep a team in a game on a given day. It's not to say Morton will find The Fountain of Youth or that picking him up would garner even minimal desired results, but in a market that is not at deadline peak yet and a guy who could be acquired pretty easily, these are options that have to at least be looked at.