Julio Teheran Might Not Be The Braves Pitcher To Lead Them To The Postseason
Remember when the Atlanta Braves had a star-studded starting pitching rotation with the likes of John Smoltz, Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine and opposing batters feared facing them? If a team knew Smoltz, Maddux, or Glavine were taking the mound that night, an immediate fear crept into the minds of the opposing batters.
Heck, on July 22, 1997 Maddux put so much of a scare in the Chicago Cubs lineup, he pitched a complete game victory that saw him throw only 78 pitches!
These three-headed horsemen helped the Braves make 14 straight postseason appearances. Essentially, you could make a case for each one of these guys being the Braves stud pitcher, or number one guy to give the ball.
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But now, the Braves are calling Julio Teheran their number one guy. A far cry from the days of Smoltz, Maddux and Glavine, as being the guy to lead the Braves back to the postseason.
So, on July 31, 2017 do the Braves trade Teheran? Â Has that ship sailed away? Â Is that still a possibility?
Career Stats Do Not Lie
Over a seven-year career, Teheran’s career record is almost .500, with 54 wins and 48 losses, while only having three seasons in which he ended the year with an above .500 record. He has a 3.54 career ERA, with 795 career strikeouts and has only pitched five career complete games.
In comparison to those three fellow Braves pitchers, Smoltz spent twenty-one years in the majors, compiling 213 wins and 155 losses, but after missing the entire 2000 season while injured, he came back as a closer for the next nine years and had 154 saves – almost as many career losses he had – and still was able to compile 3,084 career strikeouts.
Maddux had a twenty-three year career, where he won 355 games and only lost 227. He tossed 3,371 strikeouts and had a career 3.16 ERA. He averaged 6.1 strikeouts per nine innings!
Glavine was no slack either. Over twenty-two years in the majors, Glavine won 305 games and only lost 203, while compiling 2,607 strikeouts and a 3.54 ERA. Glavine only gave up 0.7 home runs per nine innings!
So say for instance Teheran plays another fourteen years and has a similar pace as to what he is currently on, he will end up with 162 career wins, 144 career losses and 2,385 strikeouts…yes, I realized these numbers aren’t an accurate assumption of what he could or can’t possibly do.
On Friday night, the 26-year-old went just 4 2/3 innings, gave up seven hits, eight runs, two walks and had five strikeouts.  He allowed three homers…to Philadelphia Phillies!  And the Braves lost 10-3.
Teheran has started 21 times in 2017 and is 7-9 with 5.09 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP.  At SunTrust Park this year, he’s struggled the most.  In 52.1 innings pitched, he holds a 7.05 ERA with just 37 strikeouts.  Away from SunTrust, he’s thrown 68 innings, with a 3.57 ERA and 54 strikeouts.
He’s having a strange season for sure.  I’m still a fan of Teheran and don’t want the Braves to move him, but let’s take a look at a few pros and cons of trading away Teheran.
Pro:Â Teheran is still really young at 26-years-old
Pro: Â Teheran is a fan favorite and seems to be well respected in the Braves clubhouse
Pro:Â Teheran has averaged 199 innings pitched over the last four years
Pro:Â Teheran is only due $19M over the next two years and has a team option for 2020
Con:Â Teheran has a 7.05 ERA, at HOME!
Con:Â Teheran has given up 23 home runs already this year, matching his average over the last four years and we are still in July
Con:Â Teheran has struggled this season and especially his last outing. Â What could the Braves get for him?
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Are those numbers that the guy who heads the starting pitching rotation should be putting up that will take the Braves back to the promise land? Do the Braves trade him now for a position player? Is it worth trading him at this point?  Is trading him still an option for the Braves in 2017?
The answer to those questions falls in the hands of John Coppolella and the Braves front office.  However, I don’t see the Braves trading away Julio Teheran at the deadline.  He’s got too friendly of a contract and isn’t pitching to a high standard to receive a package worth trading him for.
Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports reported that the Braves will likely keep Teheran at the trade deadline.
Anything is possible though as we approach 4pm on Monday very quickly.