Mets Sign Former Braves Ace Julio Teheran

The Mets are taking a flyer on the two-time All-Star, hoping to add depth to the starting rotation.

Mar 2, 2024; Sarasota, Florida, USA; Baltimore Orioles pitcher Julio Teheran (49) throws a pitch / Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Mets have potentially found their new fifth starter.

On Wednesday, SNY's Andy Martino reported that the Mets are finalizing a deal with veteran right-hander Julio Teheran. Details of the contract have not been revealed yet.

Mets finalizing an agreement with Julio Teheran

— Andy Martino (@martinonyc) April 3, 2024

The Mets had previously showed interest in landing Teheran, pursuing him during spring training before the Baltimore Orioles scooped him up. However, the 33-year-old opted out of his contract after Baltimore didn't place him on their Opening Day roster; from there, Teheran and the Mets resumed negotiations before ultimately coming to an agreement this week.

Teheran is a pitcher the Mets are familiar with, as he was the ace of their arch-rival Atlanta Braves during the mid-to-late 2010s. He was selected to the All-Star team twice, in 2014 and 2016, and posted ERAs of 2.89 and 3.21 in those respective seasons. In 2019, he started on Opening Day for the sixth consecutive season, tying the legendary Warren Spahn for the most consecutive Opening Day starts in club history.

However, the Braves allowed Teheran to walk in free agency after 2019, and he would only appear in 11 games (10 starts) across the next two seasons with the Los Angeles Angels and Detroit Tigers; he was out of MLB throughout the 2022 season as he pitched in the Atlantic League and Mexican League. In 2023, Teheran returned to the majors with the Milwaukee Brewers, and went 3-5 in 14 games (11 starts) and 71.2 innings with a 4.40 ERA and 50 strikeouts.

The Mets resumed their pursuit of Teheran due to injuries and poor performances in the starting rotation early on in the season. With ace Kodai Senga already out until at least mid-to-late May, the rotation consisted of Luis Severino, Jose Quintana, Sean Manaea, Adrian Houser, and Tylor Megill; however, Megill was placed on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder strain, while Quintana and Severino failed to impress in their starts. Although Teheran doesn't offer too much upside, the Mets hope for him to bring stability to the rotation and pitch well enough to keep them in games.

The season has gotten off to a rough start for the Mets, as they were swept by the Brewers and were shut out by the Tigers in extra innings to fall to 0-4. They are set to resume their series with the Tigers on Thursday as part of a day-night doubleheader, thanks to consecutive rainouts on Tuesday and Wednesday.