According to the Tampa Bay Rays Senior Vice President of Baseball Operations, Erik Neander, the team will be declining their options on right-handed pitcher Charlie Morton and catcher Mike Zunino.
Charlie Morton was the largest free agent signing in franchise history when the Rays gave him a three-year deal in December of 2018. Two of those seasons were guaranteed with the Rays possessing an option for the third season, that has since been renegotiated. However, despite the finagling of the option year, the Rays still decided to decline their option of the veteran starting pitcher. Originally, the option called for Morton to make $15M in 2021, but the terms of the new deal have not been released.