Mets signing Teheran to help ailing rotation
NEW YORK — With the Mets scrambling to fill their starting rotation following injuries to Kodai Senga and Tylor Megill, they have turned to a former foe to fill in the gap.
The Mets are in agreement on a major league deal with right-handed starting pitcher Julio Teheran, according to the New York Post’s Jon Heyman. The 33-year-old right-hander could serve to fill an immediate need in the Mets’ rotation with 15 games in the next 14 days.
Who is Julio Teheran?
Last season as a member of the Brewers, Teheran was 3-5 with a 4.40 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP across 14 appearances with 50 strikeouts in 712⁄3 innings.
The 33-year-old broke into the league as a member of the Braves, spending 2011 to 2019 in Atlanta. He was a two-time All-Star and finished fifth in National League Rookie of the Year voting in 2013.
Teheran spent the 2022 season away from Major League Baseball, making six starts for the Staten Island FerryHawks in the Atlantic League and seven more in the Mexican League.
In his career, Teheran faced the Mets 30 times, including 28 as a member of the Braves, notching 10 wins, a 3.24 ERA and 134 strikeouts.
Where does Julio Teheran fit?
In addition to Megill and Senga, who each figured to be out until at least May, the Mets are coping with David Peterson’s recovery from hip surgery and Max Kranick working back from a hamstring strain.
Megill’s turn in the rotation was set to arrive on Saturday, but will likely be pushed back with all of the rain this past week.
Teheran began the 2024 season on a minor-league deal with the Orioles and pitched in five games this March. He posted a 1-1 record with a 3.38 ERA and 10 strikeouts in 131⁄3 innings.
In his final start of the spring, Teheran threw four scoreless innings with three strikeouts, while allowing one hit, two walks and hitting a batter. The right-hander is not that far removed from throwing in games and should factor into the Mets’ plans in the near future.