Atlanta Braves Will Face Trade Decision with Julio Teheran
By Kit Anderson
The Atlanta Braves are in an interesting situation with pitcher Julio Teheran. The pitcher has a lot of trade value but could be needed in the rotation if he can recapture his consistency.
Julio Teheran has been the Atlanta Braves opening day starter for a number of years and their go-to pitcher. The last two seasons that has changed with Teheran struggling to look like the pitcher he once was.
Teheran is a puzzling pitcher who has plenty of value and is on an affordable contract. The same reasons that make Julio tempting to trade are the same reasons the team should keep Julio. More than once I have voice my opinion that trading Julio would be a mistake.
Watching him since he joined the Braves I know the pitcher he is capable of being. Still, if you are the Braves as the trade deadline approaches they will at least entertain offers for the right-handed Teheran.
They would be crazy not to consider trading him considering his recent struggles. But it would be equally crazy to trade a controllable asset like Julio unless it put you in a better position to win.
So far this season Julio’s 4+ ERA and his 10 runs given up in his last two starts the best show the pitcher he has been for the Braves. Before those two rough outings, Teheran pitched six scoreless innings looking more like himself.
Figuring out Teheran or why he has struggled to adjust in recent years is baffling. A pitcher typically gets better with age and is in their prime at Julio’s current age (27).
Julio Teheran is forcing the Braves to make a tough decision in 2018. Bet on the right-hander to turn it all around or to decide to pull the trigger on a trade.
All eyes will be on Teheran in his upcoming starts. Starts where no one has any idea what to expect from what used to be one of the more consistent pitchers in baseball.