By: Tim Kelly, Managing Editor 
Not only did a season-ending torn hamstring in April cost Charlie Morton a chance to continue building his value in a contract year, but it may have cost him a chance to join a contender in the process.
According to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, Morton was drawing early-season trade interest prior to tearing his hamstring while running a ball out.
"The Phillies already were drawing trade inquiries on Charlie Morton when he suffered a season-ending torn hamstring in April."
Morton, 32, was acquired by the Phillies in an off-season trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates. In four starts with the team, he went 1-1 with a 4.04 ERA. While his fourth start lasted just one inning due to what ended up being a season-ending injury, Morton's advanced stats were rather impressive in the early part of the season. Per Fangraphs, Morton had a 3.03 FIP with a 2.92 xFIP in his first 17.1 innings, which suggest he was pitching much better than his traditional stats would have led you to believe.
Morton had surgery to repair his torn hamstring on May 2, with estimates at that time suggesting he would miss six to eight months. Given the amount of young pitching talent that the upper levels of the Phillies farm system possesses, it seems less than likely that Morton will return to the Phillies in 2017, though it's certainly not something the Phillies would probably rule out if re-signing him came at the right price. If Morton doesn't return to Philadelphia in 2017, it seems as though he will have a few suitors for his services.
