With Max Fried likely leaving in free agency, and Spencer Strider not expected to be ready for Opening Day, the Braves really could use Morton to return. As Passan noted, he's a reliable innings-eater, and yet his 1-year contract won't prevent the Braves from signing another top-rotation starter this offseason.

In his off-season prediction column released Tuesday morning, Jeff Passan of ESPN reported Charlie Morton does indeed plan to pitch in 2025, and the expectation this winter is he’ll sign a 1-year deal with a contender.

The 41-year-old righty intends to stick around in 2025, and this will decide a few things for the Atlanta Braves