The Angels’ search for starting pitching brought them to a longtime Brave.
Julio Teheran reportedly agreed to a one-year, $9 million deal with the Angels on Wednesday. His new franchise is hopeful he’ll continue to be the innings eater he was for the Braves the past seven years.
The Braves declined Teheran's $12 million team option earlier in the offseason, letting the 28-year-old become a free agent. The right-hander, once a top Braves prospect, had spent his first nine seasons with the Braves. He and first baseman Freddie Freeman were the only two mainstays through the team's rebuild from the end of 2014 through 2017.
Teheran didn’t blossom into the front-line starter many pegged him as when he ascended the team’s minor-league system, but he did become a consistent innings consumer. Teheran has made 30 starts and pitched over 174 innings in each of the past seven seasons, earning a 3.64 ERA over those 222 starts.
After signing star third baseman Anthony Rendon, the Angels have aggressively pursued pitching upgrades in their efforts to build a contender around MVP Mike Trout. They finished with a collective 5.12 ERA last season, sixth worst in the majors. Teheran joins former Oriole Dylan Bundy as recent additions to the staff.
While Teheran comes with flaws, including a susceptibility to the long ball, he provides exactly what the Angels need: a starter who can provide some form of reliability. The Angels have been decimated by injuries in recent seasons.
The Braves decided to move on from Teheran as their rotation grew more crowded. They signed lefty Cole Hamels to fill one veteran spot in a group that includes Mike Soroka, Max Fried and Mike Foltynewicz. The fifth spot will go to once-displaced starter Sean Newcomb, a youngster or another outside addition.
Teheran, a two-time All-Star, posted his best season in 2014, when he owned a 2.89 ERA with 186 strikeouts against 51 walks in 33 starts. Teheran contributed to four playoff teams, including making 64 starts over the past two seasons, both of which culminated in division titles.
But in the past two Octobers, the team didn't see Teheran as an asset. He made one appearance in the 2018 NLDS, pitching mop-up duty in the Braves' season-ending Game 4 loss. He initially wasn't on the 2019 NLDS roster but was added after an injury to Chris Martin. He appeared in two games against the Cardinals, taking the loss in Game 4.
In Anaheim, Teheran is reunited with former Braves teammates Andrelton Simmons, Justin Upton and Tommy La Stella. The Angels also are reportedly considering signing lefty Dallas Keuchel, who spent last season with the Braves.
The Braves, meanwhile, will move forward with their next-era rotation, which won't feature a heavy dose of Teheran for the first time since 2012.
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