Sports News Roundup
26 November 2020
While the NFL season is in full swing, the NBA and MLB have been experiencing two different offseasons. The NBA has been hot and heavy from the onset, while MLB has gotten off to a snail's pace. Regardless, both have made a little news this week so let's look at the past week's biggest stories.
Charlie Morton Signs With Braves
There are not many big-name starting pitching free agents on the market this season, but the Braves swooped in and plucked one of them from free agency this week. The Braves signed Charlie Morton to a one-year, $15 million contract.
Morton will now add to an already impressive starting rotation that includes Mike Soroka, Max Fried, Ian Anderson, and Drew Smyly. Throw in the fact the Braves have an impressive, young core on the offensive side, and this could be a team to watch in the N.L. this year.
Last season, Morton pitched with the Tampa Bay Rays. In 9 starts, the righty went 2-2 with a 4.75 ERA, 1.395 WHIP, and struck out 42 in 38 innings. While these numbers are not dominant, from 2017 to 2019, he went a combined 45 – 16. In 2019, the last full season of baseball, he went 16-6 with a 3.05 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and struck out 240 in 194.2 innings.
Morton is 37 years old now, but the Braves hope that he has one year left in him as they try to put together a rotation that can contend with the likes of the Los Angeles Dodgers, the team that knocked them out of the playoffs this year, consistently. On paper at least, Morton is the exact type of signing that Atlanta needed to make for their pitching staff.
Celtics Sign Tatum To Long-Term Contract
The Boston Celtics have a wealth of talent on their roster, and earlier this week, they ensured that part of that talent would be around for a while. On Wednesday, the Celtics made a contract extension worth the maximum salary official with their forward, Jayson Tatum.
The deal officially starts in the 2021-22 season and includes a fifth-year player option for Tatum that could keep him there through the 2025-26 season.
Last season, in 66 games, Tatum averaged 23.4 points, seven rebounds, and three assists. He shot 45% from the field, 40.3% from behind the arc, and 81.2% from the free-throw line.
While the Celtics lost Gordon Hayward, who signed a four-year deal with the Charlotte Hornets, they still will have Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kemba Walker, and Marcus Smart.
The Celtics were bounced from the playoffs this season by the Miami Heat four games to two, but they have high hopes for the next few years. In fact, next season, they are currently +550 to win the Eastern Conference (trailing only the Bucks and Nets) and +1500 to win the championship next season.
Whiteside Signs With Kings
According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Sacramento Kings made a move this week to help out their frontcourt as they signed center Hassan Whiteside to a one-year deal.
After breaking out with the Miami Heat, they traded him to the Portland Trail Blazers before last season. Playing in 67 games for Portland last year, he averaged 15.5 points, 13.5 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game. He shot 62.1% from the field as he helped Portland.
On Thursday, the Kings added even more help in the frontcourt, according to Jason Jones of The Athletic, as they signed Frank Kaminsky. The power forward / center played with the Phoenix Suns last year. In 39 games, he averaged 9.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.9 assists.
Despite the additions, the Kings are not expected to have much success next season. They currently have the worst odds (+11,000) to win the Western Conference and are +13,000 to win the NBA Finals.
