Mets agree to sign Julio Teheran to a one-year contract
The veteran right-hander is reportedly ready to pitch in games
Sorely in need of starting pitching depth, the Mets agreed to sign RHP Julio Teheran to a one-year contract, according to the New York Post.
Teheran will receive a major league contract worth $2.5 million with an additional $450,000 in incentives, according to MLB.com.
Teheran, 33, pitched to a 4.40 ERA in 14 appearances and 11 starts for the Brewers in 2023. He missed nearly two months last season with a hip injury and did not pitch in 2022.
He dealt with a shoulder injury in 2021 and did not pitch in the majors in 2022. He opted out of his minor league deal with the Orioles at the end of spring training after pitching to a 3.38 ERA over five appearances this spring.
Teheran was an All-Star in 2014 and 2016 but has lost his footing in the big leagues since going 10-11 with a 3.81 ERA in 33 starts with the Braves in 2019. He did show improved control in his short stint with the Brewers last season but has historically struggled to limit the walks over the course of his career. He now has below average fastball velocity at this point in his career but featured a decent sinker and curveball last season.
The move to sign Teheran comes in the wake of Tylor Megill’s shoulder injury which will sideline him for an unspecified period of time. With their consecutive rainouts this week, the Mets will play 15 games in their next 14 days and while they can recall José Buttó as their 27th player for Thursday’s doubleheader against the Tigers, they have to send him back to the minors and cannot recall him again until April 12.
As such, the Mets need another body for the rotation at a minimum over the next couple of weeks, if not longer.
Teheran will be immediately available to be installed into the Mets rotation, according to the Athletic, at which point the Mets will have a body with veteran experience they can use in the rotation for now and as depth later.
The veteran right-hander is 81-82 with a 3.83 ERA in 254 games, 247 starts with the Braves, Angels, Tigers, and Brewers in his 11-year career.