New York Mets DFA Julio Teheran After Just One Start
It didn't take long for the Mets to have buyer's remorse over one of their new acquisitions.
Julio Teheran's tenure with the New York Mets lasted just one game.
Less than a week after signing the 33-year-old veteran and former Atlanta Braves ace, the Mets quickly pulled the plug on the Teheran experiment and designated him for assignment. As a corresponding move, the team called up right-hander Dedniel Núñez from the Triple-A Syracuse Mets.
Teheran's departure from the Mets came just one day after his first and only appearance with the team. Filling in for the injured Tylor Megill, Teheran started on Monday night against his former team and the Mets' most hated rival.
He pitched a pair of scoreless innings, but everything fell apart in the bottom of the third. After walking Jarred Kelenic and Ronald Acuña Jr., throwing a combined 16 pitches to the two outfielders, Teheran gave up a two-run double to Ozzie Albies and a monstrous two-run home run to Marcell Ozuna to spot the Braves a 4-0 lead. Ensuing singles to Michael Harris II and Orlando Arcia would mercifully end Teheran's night.
The Mets would show impressive resilience by coming back to win the game 8-7, thanks to a two-homer, five-RBI performance from Brandon Nimmo. However, they had already seen enough from Teheran and knew he was not the answer. His final line: 2.2 innings, 68 pitches (37 strikes), four runs, six hits, two walks, and three strikeouts. The next day, the team released the 33-year-old.
With Teheran gone, the Mets have now presented an opportunity for Jose Butto, who competed with Megill for the fifth starting spot in Spring Training. The 26-year-old has begun the season in Triple-A Syracuse and is eligible to be recalled on Friday. Teheran's next start was to be on Saturday, April 13 against the Kansas City Royals, so it appears that Butto will be starting that day instead.
The Mets had shown a lot of interest in Teheran during the offseason and were quick to scoop him up after he opted out of his contract with the Baltimore Orioles. However, it didn't take long for the team to realize this wouldn't be a good fit.
