The Astros are losing another key piece to their 2017 World Series Championship team.

Charlie Morton, who shut down the Dodgers in Game 7 to give the Astros their first-ever title, is signing a two-year deal with the Tampa Bay Rays for $30 million.

Morton was also one of the best starters for the Astros over the 2018 season, when they lost in the ALCS to the Boston Red Sox. Morton went 15-3 with a 3.13 ERA for the season.

Morton is yet another blow to what was one of the best starting staffs in baseball last year. Fellow free agent Dallas Keuchel is not expected to return, and Lance McCullers is going to miss the season with Tommy John surgery.

As of now, the Astros will have Justin Verlander, Gerrit Cole, Colin McHugh and a lot of question marks in the rotation. The team also lost veteran catcher Brian McCann and infielder Marwin Gonzalez. While they have signed Robinson Chirinos and acquired Aldemys Diaz to replace Gonzalez, the rotation remains a major question mark. Most assumed Morton would return to the team. The Astros reportedly offered a one year deal with an option; the Rays topped that with two years and an option.

While the Astros have earned the benefit of the doubt with a World Series title in their pocket, the losses from a really good team are piling up, and the Yankees and Red Sox are not going to stand still. The Astros will make some moves to get better, but they let a pretty nice sized fish get away in Morton.