According to reports from SportsNet New York’s Andy Martino and others on Wednesday, the New York Mets have signed Julio Teherán, a veteran starting pitcher, to a major league contract.
The 33-year-old right-hander spent the 2023 season with the Milwaukee Brewers, following a stint in the minor leagues in 2022 and mostly playing in Mexico in 2021.
Teherán initially signed a minor league deal with the Baltimore Orioles in February but opted out a month later. After becoming a free agent, he spent 10 days on the market before joining the Mets.
According to MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo, Teherán is set to start for the Mets in their upcoming series opener against the Atlanta Braves on Monday.
Teherán gained recognition during his nine seasons with the Braves, earning two All-Star selections while ranking fourth in baseball with 222 starts between 2013 and 2019.
Throughout his career, Teherán has accumulated a record of 81-82 with a 3.83 ERA, a 1.219 WHIP, 1,257 strikeouts, and a 19.9 WAR.
The addition of an experienced pitcher was deemed necessary for the Mets early in the 2024 season due to various factors. Ace Kodai Senga suffered a shoulder injury during Spring Training and will be sidelined for at least a few weeks. Additionally, Tylor Megill was placed on the 15-day injured list last weekend due to a shoulder strain.
Furthermore, the Mets have faced multiple rainouts, leading to a condensed schedule in the coming days. With a double-header scheduled for Thursday, neither of the starters in those games would be ready for Monday.
New York has no off-days until April 18, underscoring the urgency of bolstering the rotation to maintain competitiveness.
Currently, the Mets are winless in four games. While it remains to be seen if Teherán can reverse their fortunes single-handedly, his presence should alleviate some pressure on veteran pitchers like Jose Quintana, Luis Severino, Sean Manaea, and Adrian Houser.
