Matt Morris Released By Pirates

It looks like the end of the line for former 20-game winner Matt Morris.

Morris, who went 22-8 with a 3.16 ERA for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2001, was released early Sunday by the Pittsburgh Pirates, as reported first by Toronto's Fan 590.

The 33-year-old Morris has struggled this season, posting an 0-4 record with a 9.67 ERA for the Pirates, including a disastrous outing (1.2 IP, 6 R) just a day earlier.

According to Fan 590, the Pirates will eat over $11 million of Morris' contract in the move, rather than let the declining right-hander continue pitching for them.

It also appears that Morris will likely retire, as Fan 590 reported he was quoted as saying, "I'm proud of my career. I didn't mean or want...to end this way. I've always said the other team will let you know when you're done."

In his last three starts, it apparently was the case as Morris was hit hard, pitching to a 14.81 ERA while lasting only 10.1 innings against Los Angeles, Florida, and Philadelphia.

Morris, who had been acquired by Pittsburgh from San Francisco at the trading deadline last year, was 3-8 overall with a 7.04 ERA in 16 starts for the Bucos, failing to stabilize the Pirates' otherwise young pitching staff.

If Morris does indeed decide not to attempt a comeback with another team, it marks the end of a decent career. Morris has a career record of 121-92 in his 11 big-league seasons.

It is refreshing to see that an athlete chooses to end his career when he knows he can no longer perform at an elite level, instead of hanging on the way some others have been doing.

Morris' best season was 2001, when he not only won 22 games, but also led the Cardinals to the postseason. Morris pitched valiantly for St. Louis in that year's playoffs (1.20 ERA in 2 starts), but unfortunately didn't get any run support as he drew Arizona's Curt Schilling twice in the Division Series.

The Cards lost both of Morris' starts (1-0 and 2-1) to the eventual champs, losing a thriller in the fifth and deciding game in the Diamondbacks' final at-bat.