Brewers Sign Veteran Julio Teheran To Shore Up Rotation

The Milwaukee Brewers have dipped into the free agent waters to help shore up their starting rotation that's been bitten hard by injuries.

On Tuesday, the Brewers signed 32 year old veteran starter Julio Teheran to a major league contract. Teheran will earn $1.5MM with another potential $1MM in incentives. It's unclear whether the $1.5MM base salary is prorated for the whole season.

Jon Heyman was first to report the news.

The Brewers have signed Julio Teheran to a major league contract after he opted out of a minor league deal with the Padres the day before.

It's been quite the career for Julio Teheran. He was a top five finisher in Rookie of the Year voting in 2013 with the Atlanta Braves. He was an All Star in 2014 and 2016. For a while, he was the ace of the Braves. He was reliable, making at least 30 starts each year from 2013 through 2019.

Since 2019, however, Teheran's career has gone off the rails a bit. He struggled massively with the Angels in the shortened 2020 season. He threw just five innings with the Tigers in 2021 and that was the last time he pitched in the majors. Teheran played in the independent Atlantic League and the Mexican League in 2022.

Teheran caught on with the Padres on a minors deal and made eight starts in Triple-A, posting a 5.62 ERA in 40 IP with 45 Ks and 16 BBs. The Padres decided not to promote him as his opt out approached and he chose to enter free agency where a desperate Brewers team will look to add him to their rotation.

Expectations for Teheran should be low. He's not the pitcher he once was, but it's a solid buy-low play by Brewers GM Matt Arnold. The Brewers rotation needs help. They need depth and healthy bodies at this point. When Teheran is healthy, he's a good pitcher and the Brewers are hoping that Teheran can recapture at least some of his former self and be a solid, reliable starter that can eat up some innings for a Milwaukee team in need of it.

If Teheran struggles, the Brewers can release him and won't be on the hook for anything long term. Since they'll be without Brandon Woodruff and Wade Miley for several more weeks, it's likely we'll see Teheran get a good, long look in the Brewers rotation as they'll remain shorthanded for a while longer.