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Matt Morris | Starting Pitcher

Team: Pittsburgh Pirates
Age / DOB:  (38) / 8/9/1974
Ht / Wt:  6'5' / 225
Bats / Throws: Right / Right
College: Seton Hall
Contract: view contract details
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Latest News

Recent News

Matt Morris has decided to retire after being released by the Pirates.
"It's over and I'm happy where I am right now," Morris said. "In my heart, I'm happy. At the end, it all came to a head very quickly, but I've had a great career. It was time to move on and, obviously, the Pirates felt the same way." Morris went 121-92 with a 3.98 ERA in 11 seasons, including 0-4 with a 9.67 ERA this year. Wed, Apr 30, 2008 10:33:00 AM
Source: MLB.com

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Player News

Date:
Matt Morris - S - Pirates

Pirates released RHP Matt Morris.

Not a surprise, but still a tough blow for the Pirates who are going to have to write him an $11 million check. He was 0-4 with a 9.67 ERA in five starts this year. "Matt Morris has been a true professional," said manager John Russell. "He's had a great career. He wanted to help us win, and it just wasn't happening." Phil Dumatrait is going to take his spot in the rotation.
Related: Phil Dumatrait
Sun, Apr 27, 2008 12:21:00 PM
Matt Morris - S - Pirates

Matt Morris got absolutely rocked by the Phillies Saturday.

Morris's poor pitching wasn't helped by the Pirates' awful defense, as they committed two errors in a five run first inning. Morris was lifted in the second inning after giving up an RBI single to Geoff Jenkins. He moves to 0-4 with a 9.67 ERA and didn't do anything to calm talks of his release.
Sat, Apr 26, 2008 10:10:00 PM
Matt Morris - S - Pirates

Team president Frank Coonelly said Tuesday that the Pirates would consider buying out the contract of an underperforming veteran, but added that the team is not focused on potentially doing that with Matt Morris.

Morris is making slightly over $10 million this season and will be owed a $1 million buyout if the team doesn't exercise its option on him for 2009. "He is not pitching up to his standards or our expectations, but he is still working very hard ... to regain his effectiveness," Coonelly said. "We are working equally hard to make him an effective member of our staff and have not given up on him."
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Wed, Apr 23, 2008 10:20:00 AM
Matt Morris - S - Pirates

Matt Morris was rocked for eight runs in four innings by the Marlins on Monday night.

So far we've used "tagged," "pounded," and "rocked" to describe his outings this season. He allowed nine hits in the three innings, and two of them were home runs. This could be a very long season for Morris.
Mon, Apr 21, 2008 10:06:00 PM
Matt Morris - S - Pirates

Matt Morris was pounded for six runs in 4 1/3 innings Tuesday by the Dodgers.

Morris has a 7.02 ERA after three starts. He's allowed 26 hits and struck out just six in 16 1/3 innings. The Pirates might as well stick with him and hope for the best, but this could get really ugly. If anyone could make a run at 20 losses this year, it's Morris.
Wed, Apr 16, 2008 12:59:00 AM
Matt Morris - S - Pirates

Matt Morris was tagged for eight runs and 13 hits in four innings by the Yankees on Wednesday.

Phil Hughes can blame the wind for his poor outing. Morris, though, has to chalk it up to the fact that he just isn't very good these days. He's allowed 13 earned runs and 29 hits in 13 innings.
Wed, Mar 19, 2008 10:38:00 PM
Matt Morris - S - Pirates

According to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, "general manager Neal Huntington has made it known to peers that he is open to trading starter Matt Morris."

The Pirates' previous regime misguidedly traded for Morris and he's set to make $9.5 million in 2008, so Huntington may have to eat some salary to get a deal done. The newspaper suggests that the Cardinals could be interested in re-acquiring Morris, who pitched in St. Louis from 1997-2005.
Related: Cardinals
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Thu, Nov 29, 2007 10:09:00 AM
Matt Morris - S - Pirates

Partially as a result of the previous regime's decision to absorb Matt Morris' contract at the deadline, the Pirates won't be pursuing any high-priced free agents this winter.

The Pirates would have to overpay to sign any quality players anyway, and with fewer gaping hopes than usual, it makes sense to sit this one out. They likely will search for a bargain starter or a reliever. The lineup should be similar unless Jason Bay, Jack Wilson or Ronny Paulino is traded. Chris Duffy, Nate McLouth and Nyjer Morgan can battle for the center-field job, with Andrew McCutchen potentially taking over before the end of the year.
Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Sun, Nov 11, 2007 04:34:00 AM
Matt Morris - S - Pirates

Matt Morris limited the Diamondbacks to one run over seven innings in a victory Wednesday night.

Arizona has lost two in a row in Pittsburgh. Morris lasted seven innings for the first time since joining the Pirates at the trade deadline and barely pulled his ERA back under 5.00 to end the year. He finishes 10-11 with a 4.89 ERA. The Pirates are on the hook for $9.5 million next year and a $1 million buyout in 2010.
Thu, Sep 27, 2007 12:10:00 AM
Matt Morris - S - Pirates

Matt Morris, who suffered a bruised right hand during Saturday's start, threw a bullpen session Monday and said he was set to make his scheduled start against the Padres on Thursday.

Morris has been terrible since being traded to the Pirates and isn't worth using in fantasy leagues.
Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Tue, Sep 18, 2007 10:25:00 AM
Matt Morris - S - Pirates

Matt Morris took a beating Saturday, getting slapped around for nine hits and seven runs in just 3 1/3 innings, as he dropped to 9-10.

Morris failed to strike anyone out and he walked one as his ERA soared to 4.84. He's been dreadful since joining the Pirates.
Sat, Sep 15, 2007 09:51:00 PM
Matt Morris - S - Pirates

Matt Morris evened his record at 9-9 after holding the Cubs to four runs in six innings of work on Sunday.

Morris had an awful July that saw him give up 27 earned runs in 28 2/3 innings. He hasn't been that bad since, nor has he been as good as he was during the season's first three months. Overall he has a 4.59 ERA, which isn't that bad but is hardly worth the $9.5 million he'll make next season. It will be interesting to see how the Pirates' new general manager treats Morris. The mid-season acquisition made little sense for the Pirates, but they might as well hold on to him and hope a good first half gives him trade value next season. If they ship him off to the bidder willing to eat the most amount of his contract this winter, then it may be a sign little has changed for the Pirates.
Sun, Sep 9, 2007 07:08:00 PM
Matt Morris - S - Pirates

Matt Morris pitched six strong innings Saturday to win for the first time since being acquired by the Pirates at the trade deadline.

He yielded just four hits and a run, striking out two and walking two to win his eighth game overall and even his record for the season. Morris trimmed his ERA to 4.40 with this 91-pitch, 51-strike effort.
Sat, Aug 25, 2007 09:57:00 PM
Matt Morris - S - Pirates

Matt Morris was touched up for seven hits and five runs over six innings Wednesday as he fell to a losing record.

He struck out four and walked two as his ERA rose to 4.65. We're still confused about what the Pirates had in mind when they acquired Morris; he's been awful since landing in Steel City.
Wed, Aug 15, 2007 10:08:00 PM

Depth Charts

Batters
PosRoleName
C1Russell Martin
2Michael McKenry
1B1Garrett Jones
2Gaby Sanchez
2B1Neil Walker
2Jordy Mercer
SS1Clint Barmes
2John McDonald
3Chase d'Arnaud
3B1Pedro Alvarez
2Brandon Inge
LF1Starling Marte
CF1Andrew McCutchen
RF1Travis Snider
2Jose Tabata
Starting Pitcher
PosRoleName
S1A.J. Burnett
2Wandy Rodriguez
3James McDonald
4Francisco Liriano
5Charlie Morton
6Jeff Karstens
7Jeff Locke
8Jeanmar Gomez
Relief Pitcher
PosRoleName
R1Jason Grilli
2Mark Melancon
3Tony Watson
4Justin Wilson
5Vin Mazzaro
6Bryan Morris
7Jose Contreras
8Jared Hughes