Morton (hamstring) signed a two-year, $14 million contract with the Astros on Wednesday, the Houston Chronicle reports.
A torn hamstring limited Morton to just four starts in 2016, but his 6-to-8 month recovery timetable puts him on track to be ready by spring training, and his contract makes him a favorite to open the season with one of the back-end spots in the Astros' rotation. Health will be a key factor in him both winning and hanging onto a job, as he has averaged just 16 starts per season since making a career-high 29 starts in 2011.