Tigers DFA struggling veteran Charlie Morton 

DETROIT -- Charlie Morton is a World Series hero from 2017, a two-time champion and a seven-year postseason veteran. He has more experience in big late-season games than some of his Tigers teammates have Major League experience overall. But as the Tigers try to hold onto their playoff spot, it became abundantly clear that their best chances at getting back to the postseason did not include him.

The Tigers designated Morton for assignment on Sunday morning, clearing a roster spot to select veteran reliever Tanner Rainey from Triple-A Toledo. It could well mark the end of Morton’s 18-year Major League career.

The move came about once the Tigers decided Morton would not be part of their rotation for the final week of the regular season. He would’ve lined up for Thursday’s series finale in Cleveland, a game that could well make or break their postseason chances. But Morton’s second-inning exit Friday against Atlanta, having allowed six runs on five hits while recording just four outs, made it apparent they couldn’t start him against the tenacious Guardians, nor in Boston during their three-game series against the Red Sox to end the regular season.

At any other point in the season, or with a more secure grasp on a postseason berth, the Tigers might have moved Morton to the bullpen and let him work through his command issues. His versatility was part of his appeal as a Trade Deadline acquisition from the Orioles. But not now, not with what the Tigers have at stake.

“We talked about it,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “There was some concern about him being able to locate his pitches, which is the issue with him in his last few outings. When we started to wonder about his strike-throwing, it became questionable on how we can deploy that.

“Do you bank on the experience all of a sudden clicking for him as the innings only get more and more important between now and the end of the regular season and into a potential October? Or do you look at it through the lens of reality of what we see? The experience and the vibe around him was what was tugging at us on whether or not to make this move. But given where our 'pen’s at, given we’re going day by day trying to get a win first and then multiple wins as we go, having a roster spot that we can’t use became a decision for us.”

Morton finished with a 7.09 ERA in nine starts with Detroit. His struggles were more reminiscent of his early-season stretch with the Orioles, rather than the midseason run that led the Tigers to trade for him in exchange for pitching prospect Micah Ashman.

The move Sunday was a logical decision, but that made it no easier for Hinch, who won a World Series with the Astros in 2017 in no small part via Morton’s versatile right arm. He pitched the final four innings in Game 7 of the World Series to beat the Dodgers.

“I met with Charlie off-site last night and had an incredible conversation with him that gave him the reality that this is the end here with the Tigers,” Hinch said. “That conversation is never easy. I don’t know that our fans or even our organization can relate to that one in particular, just because of a long history with Charlie. But I love the man, and he gave us what he could, and obviously we don’t have the time to sort it out over the next week as we push forward for more wins. …

“We sat together for almost two hours last night, which is uncommon when you’re delivering news of this magnitude, especially with where he’s at in his career and his age and the timing of this year. Personally, it meant a lot for me to do it face to face, and we got to reminisce about a lot of times together that no one else will probably care about except for me and him and some teammates and some fans back in the day. But if I ever get used to delivering that kind of news, I’m in the wrong business.”

The Tigers signed Rainey to a Minor League contract in mid-July after the Pirates released him. He posted a 2.66 ERA over 19 games with Triple-A Toledo, striking out 33 batters over 23 2/3 innings. Like Morton, the 32-year-old Rainey brings postseason experience, having won a World Series with the Nationals over Hinch’s Astros in 2019.