Tampa Bay Rays decline 2021 options on Charlie Morton, Mike Zunino
The Tampa Bay Rays have declined the 2021 options on starting pitcher Charlie Morton and catcher Mike Zunino, general manager Erik Neander said Friday.
Morton was scheduled to make $15 million in 2021, while Zunino was slotted for $4.5 million. Both players are now eligible for free agency.
Neander told reporters that he is open to bringing back both players for lesser deals.
Morton was 2-2 with a 4.74 ERA in nine starts during the regular season for the Rays, and he went 3-1 with a 2.70 ERA and 23 strikeouts in the postseason -- including a Game 7 victory over Houston in the American League Championship Series -- as Tampa Bay lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series.
Zunino had four home runs and hit only .147 with 10 RBIs during the pandemic-shortened season, but he had some huge hits in the playoffs, swatting four home runs.
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