Julio Teheran experienced a renaissance last summer, and it had nothing to do with a Beyoncé concert. The righty returned to Major League Baseball with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2023 after pitching just one game after the shortened 2020 season. Teheran will now look to extend his career’s second life, as the 33-year-old will sign a major league deal with the New York Mets.
Teheran initially signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles in February but opted out in March after failing to make the Opening Day roster. TEAM will hope that the two-time All-Star can provide solid rotation depth with quality innings at the big-league level.
Julio Teheran Signs With The New York Mets
Last summer, Teheran filled in nicely as the Brewers dealt with a plethora of injuries to its starting rotation. In 14 games (11 starts), he tossed 71.2 innings with a 4.40 ERA. His 98 ERA+ indicates his performance was only two percent below the league average.
According to Statcast, Teheran produced solid numbers despite not doing much else well other than limiting walks. Though metrics don’t like his performance, he got great results from his sinker (likely due to solid Milwaukee defense).
One red flag is that opposing hitters crushed his four-seam fastball. It’s tough for a starter not to throw a four-seamer, but Teheran might have better success if he relies more on his sinker/cutter/curveball combination.
Teheran’s performance didn’t necessarily lead the Brewers to the playoffs, but it helped keep the team afloat while key starters got healthy. Many teams will gladly accept this production level from an emergency depth piece, as the reigning National League Central champions will attest.
Additionally, adding a veteran like Teheran can often provide a team with a calming presence compared to a young, unestablished player. Having this presence in the locker room can help prevent a team from spiraling after experiencing obstacles like injuries.
Peak Teheran
The Colombia native spent much of the 2010s anchoring the Atlanta Braves rotation. He consistently provided 30 or more starts at above-league-average production. During his peak years (2013-2019), Teheran pitched 1,334 innings over 222 starts and posted a 3.64 ERA (111 ERA+). He also made two All-Star teams and finished fifth in the 2013 National League Rookie of the Year race.
Teheran struggled mightily in 2020 after the Braves traded him to the Angels. He finished the year with a 10.05 ERA, then injured his shoulder after just one start with the Tigers in 2021. His perforce and injury kept him out of affiliated ball until the Brewers signed him last May.
Teheran signs with the Mets with a chance to show his 2023 rebound was no fluke. The Mets will need him to provide quality innings for a few weeks while its rotation returns to form. Solid depth options are difficult to find at this point in the season, so signing Teheran could prove to be a blessing in disguise for New York.
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