Julio Teheran thanks Braves for making him ‘pitcher I am today’
Days after signing a one-year deal with the Angels, pitcher Julio Teheran said his goodbyes to Atlanta.
With an Instagram post Saturday, he wrote "To my @braves nation a big THANKS for helping me transition from the young kid with just a dream, to the man and pitcher I am today."
To the fans, he offered: “Thank you for all the love and support, I will always be grateful for it.”
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.
Angels general manager Billy Eppler said he believes Teheran bring stability to Anaheim’s pitching staff.
The Angels announced signing the two-time All-Star to a $9 million, one-year contract.
“It was important to bring some stability and certainty to our rotation,” Eppler said. “He has the ability to command all his pitches and brings some deception to his arsenal.”
The Angels had only 22 quality starts last season, which according to Sportradar marks only the second time a major league staff has had fewer than 30 (Colorado had 27 in 2012). LA starters also compiled a 5.64 ERA, second highest in the major leagues.
Eppler said he had trade discussions with Atlanta regarding Teheran in the past.
Teheran is the second pitcher the Angels have added this offseason. They acquired Dylan Bundy from the Baltimore Orioles earlier this month. That pair joins a rotation that also projects to include Shohei Ohtani, Andrew Heaney and Griffin Canning.
