Julio Teheran spent nine seasons with the Atlanta Braves and was at the top of the starting rotation for many of those years. During his long tenure in Atlanta, Teheran claimed two All-Star Game appearances and finished 5th in Rookie of the Year voting back in 2013.
Braves' rival from New York sign Julio Teheran to one-year deal
Once leaving the Braves, Teheran couldn't find the right fit for his services. He spent one season each with the Tigers, Angels, and Brewers but could not land a job in the big leagues in 2022. Instead, Julio pitched in the Atlantic League and Mexican League.
Teheran is back in the NL East with Atlanta's bitter rival, the New York Mets. This comes after spending 2023 with the Milwaukee Brewers and the Baltimore Orioles this Spring. Teheran pitched in 13.1 innings with a 3.38 ERA including seven walks and 10 strikeouts.
However, he opted out of his contract with the Orioles after not making the MLB roster out of Spring Training.
We all know after last season and the trade deadline moves that were made, the New York Mets are looking to rebuild. Who better to help in this process than an experienced starting pitcher who has had previous success in the division?
Julio Teheran inked a one-year deal with the Mets worth $2.5 million. Teheran's contract also includes a possibility of up to $450,000 in performance bonuses.
During his time with the Braves, Teheran was 77-73 with a 3.67 ERA. While the Mets would love to get that type of performance out of him, this signing is more about building a bridge to reach their desired destination.
The 33 year old starter appeared in 30 games against the Mets in his career with a 10-10 record and a 3.24 ERA.
If you look back to the mid-2010s when the Atlanta Braves were going through their rebuilding process, they had some signings that could compare to this one. Bartolo Colon and R.A. Dickey are the first two that come to mind.
A veteran presence in the clubhouse who understands what it takes to be successful at the big league level can go a long way in speeding up the rebuilding process. Not only that but the Mets are also dealing with a poor start to the season and injuries to two of their starters.
Kodai Senga is out until mid-May and Tylor MeGill just went on the 15-day IL with a right shoulder strain. Their rotation would now consist of Luis Severino, Jose Quintana, Sean Manaea, Adrian Houser, and Julio Teheran. Not the strongest rotation in baseball but Teheran should cover some innings for them. At the time of this writing, the Mets are 0-5 on the season.
Look for Teheran to become a mentor for prospects in the New York Mets organization by giving advice and leading by example. It won't be long before we see Julio Teheran back in Atlanta, but this time around he will be a rival.