The Tampa Bay Rays are closing in on a deal with right-handed starting pitcher Charlie Morton, a source confirmed to ESPN's Buster Olney.
Yahoo Sports reported that the deal is for two years and is worth $30 million.
Morton, one of the more coveted arms in a pitching-hungry market this winter, went 15-3 for the Astros in 2018 -- the highest winning percentage in baseball -- and was an All-Star selection for the first time in his 11 major league seasons. He set career bests with a 3.13 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 10.8 K/9 across 30 starts (167 innings).
The veteran right-hander, who turned 35 in November, pitched the final four innings of Game 7 against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2017 World Series, recording the final out as the Astros won their first championship.
Morton admittedly was "just average" before signing a two-year deal, which eventually totaled $18.375 million, with the Astros as a free agent after the 2016 season. He immediately paid dividends, and the late bloomer went 29-10 with a 3.36 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 10.4 K/9 across 55 starts in his two seasons with Houston.
Before joining Houston, Morton had pitched nine seasons with the Atlanta Braves, Pittsburgh Pirates and Philadelphia Phillies, going 46-71 with a 4.54 ERA. His 2016 season was limited to just four starts because of a torn left hamstring, and his career to that point had been marked by two hip surgeries, elbow surgery and shoulder issues.
But it was with the Astros where everything fell into place, as the team wanted Morton to use his four-seam fastball more often. His average velocity increased to 95 mph during a career season in 2017.
"It's kind of frustrating in a way," Morton told ESPN in October. "I've always been told I have good stuff. I've always been told I could be really, really good, but I was always just average. And here I am [turning 35], having figured a lot of things out, and I don't know how much longer I want to play. And that's fine. It's fine, really it is.
"I've had a rewarding career. I've experienced a lot -- a lot of ups and downs, and the downs have been as fulfilling to me as the good things. I don't regret the struggles. I'll say this: It's nice to know that if I reach my physical potential with the repertoire and methodology of the way I'm pitching, that I can be good. I can do the things I want to do, and I know that now."
ESPN's Tim Keown contributed to this report.