March 23: Teheran has exercised his opt-out clause, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post. He now figures to return to free agency where he’ll hunt for a new deal that offers him a better chance of receiving playing time in the big leagues.
March 22: Veteran righty Julio Teheran intends to trigger an opt-out clause in his minor league contract with the Orioles if he doesn’t make the Opening Day roster, reports Andy Kostka of the Baltimore Banner (X link). The O’s will need to decide in the next few days whether to give him an MLB spot or let him retest free agency. His contract would come with a $2MM base salary if he makes the team.
Baltimore signed Teheran a little less than one month ago. He has started three of four appearances in camp, allowing five runs with a 7:5 strikeout-to-walk ratio through 9 1/3 innings. There’s not a whole lot to be gleaned from that small sample, although it hasn’t been a resoundingly strong performance.
If Teheran were to make the team, it’d very likely come in a long relief role. O’s manager Brandon Hyde confirmed yesterday that they’ll open the season with a rotation of Corbin Burnes, Grayson Rodriguez, Tyler Wells, Dean Kremer and Cole Irvin (link via Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com). Righty Kyle Bradish and southpaw John Means are each starting the year on the injured list. GM Mike Elias told reporters this afternoon that both pitchers are expected to contribute early in the first half of the upcoming season (X link via MLB.com’s Jake Rill).
The O’s don’t have a ton of flexibility to accommodate a long reliever. Craig Kimbrel, Danny Coulombe, Yennier Cano, Jacob Webb, Cionel Pérez and Dillon Tate should all have bullpen spots secure. Mike Baumann is out of options and has tossed 5 2/3 scoreless frames with six strikeouts this spring. It’d be a surprise if the O’s risked losing him on waivers. That would leave only one spot available. Lefty Keegan Akin still has an option remaining, but he has outpitched Teheran in camp, fanning 10 without allowing a run over 7 1/3 innings.
Teheran worked mostly as a starter a season ago. He opened 11 of 14 appearances as a member of the Brewers. Teheran allowed 4.40 earned runs per nine across 71 2/3 innings. He struck out a below-average 17.4% of opponents while keeping his walks to a pristine 4.5% clip.
Welcome back to the Brewers.
nah hes going to the cardinals
He’s got future Red Sox written all over him
Breslow: “Julio recently pitched in the big leagues that some baseball fans will recognize as a somewhat legitimate player to hand a uniform to. He also didn’t cost us much, so I pounced.”
Funny, I thought Cubs.
maybe to the Yankees!
Aiken and Baumann are locks. Webb is not. It comes down to Julio or Webb. Both are gone when Means and Bradish come back absent a trade or other injuries
Yep, Akin and Baumann are locks. Webb makes it, I believe, because Albert Saurez is the 6th starter, if needed. He out-pitched Teheran!
And Dontrelle Willis. And Felix Hernandez.
I’d bet on the Angels
He started 7 opening days in a row for Atlanta.
What mega contract? Iirc he got a deal for like $48m for a bunch of years.
Santana never pitched for the Baltimore Orioles. While attempting a comeback, he severed his Achilles tendon while pitching in a June extended spring training game.
Wherever he’ll be, it won’t be Baltimore. Too many better guys, including Suarez, Povich, and McDermott.
If I were Webb, I’m not buying a house in town either.
Well I guess you won’t be see’in me and Julio down by the Camden Yards this summer.
Heartbreaking…..
Idk why but I would love to see a reunion with Atlanta. Could come in for spot starts and long relief appearances
I bet he would jump on that chance (with the high likelihood that the Braves win a lot this year).
Direct your love elsewhere.
Why?
For that to occur, ATL may need 7-8 injuries to occur, for Teheran to be a better option.
Chaim Breslow says hi
Might as well.
I feel like this is guy who just wants to pitch until he can’t anymore. He is serviceable as a depth piece who could give you innings and occasionally be good
He’s getting to a point in his career where a team like the A’s or the Rockies will pay him league min to play ball …. If I’m him, I take that A’s deal
Brewers Cards Cubs and then BoSox was it? He might get a shot early with the Giants and then get traded to a next team when the rest of the staff comes back…. probably how he makes 20 starts this year.
@Rangers
This dude is ticketed for the White Sox isn’t he?
I’d sign him for league minimum
Completely disagree with you. Did you see him pitch yesterday vs. an almost-everyday Rays’ lineup? In a way, it was a final audition for a spot starter/long reliever… and he clearly could have convinced several teams (OAK, CWS, BOS, COL, WSH, SF, MIL, even MIA) that he can be useful.
He is clearly not the same Julio who started in Atlanta, he now relies more on control, off-balancing batters, and grounders. He is more like a Kyle Hendricks-style pitcher who can navigate one or two times through a MLB lineup.
There is nothing wrong on betting on yourself especially after having a good spring training. I’m sure he’ll be more than happy to join any Major team even at the salary minimum.
I was at the game yesterday and was NOT impressed. Secondary stuff and control was OK, he struggled to hit 87 with the fastball regularly. He’d be total fodder in the ALE.
Well, I watched the game and for years now he won’t impress anybody with velo… but he was effective and pitched 4 scoreless innings, particularly inducing grounders.
I think you are right when it come to having trouble in the ALE… He does depend a lot on his infield because good batters hit him hard, but normally to the ground. I think he can navigate a lineup one time, maybe two on a good day… but hey, that’s 2-3 innings and a bunch of teams can take that.
His best fit right now might be the White Sox or the Giants (because injuries), but again, there might be another two or three teams willing to give him a shot.
I did see your point but let me put it like this:
Almost any pitcher in the same situation would rather pitch for a losing team in the ML instead of being the first depth option in a good one. Why? Well, if you bet on yourself (which is what he is doing and there is nothing wrong with that) and you do OK or slightly better than expected, there is always a chance that your losing team can find a trade parter mid-season and you can finish your season playing full time for a contender. If you are playing for any team in AAA, even if you are killing the league, your chances to make a postseason team are subject to injuries, an even so, organisations will look into prospects before you. He just wants to play in the bigs, and he believes he can still be a decent pitcher.
With well on the starting rotation, the Os needed a good reliever badly. The 8th and 9th I. Tonya will be their downfall this year. Cano hasn’t been great since July of last year. Remember Bautista coming in the 8th inning to save Cano in many occasions.