Atlanta Braves Decline Julio Teheran Option, Parting Ways For Now
By Deke Lloyd
To kick the offseason off, the Atlanta Braves made a flurry of moves. Included in those moves, Julio Teheran, the longest-tenured Braves pitcher, had his option declined by the team, signaling an end to his time in Atlanta.
Julio Teheran’s tenure with the Atlanta Braves organization spans more than ten years at this point, having signed Teheran as a teenager in 2007. Teheran would work his way through the Braves system, building more and more momentum at each step until the 2011 season when Baseball America ranked Teheran the top overall prospect in the Braves system. After getting off to a quick start in 2011 in AAA, Teheran would be called up to make his debut with the Atlanta Braves.
Teheran’s time with the Braves, 2011-2019, will be marred by his inconsistency. After breaking into the majors at such a young age, the expectations for Teheran were ace of the staff. Unfortunately, he would never live up that hype.
Even with the up and down nature of his career, Teheran was very good at different points. During his eight seasons with the Braves, Teheran was a two-time All-Star. His best seasons, coming in 2013 and 2014, saw Teheran win 14 games in each season while keeping his ERA under 3.20 in both seasons.
Perhaps, the thing Julio Teheran will be best remembered, or mocked, for will be his streak of Opening Day starts for the Atlanta Braves. From 2014 to 2019, Teheran would take the mound for the Braves on Opening Day, tying Warren Spahn for most Opening Day starts for a Braves pitcher. This stat for Julio is a sign of the times, with the Braves being a bad team for several of those seasons, and his longevity he had with this team. Next season, for the first time since 2014, will have a different Opening Day starter.
With all that said, the Atlanta Braves indicated that Julio Teheran’s time with the Braves could continue. Alex Anthopoulos stated that Teheran could in the Braves offseason plans, depending on what happens with free agency. Last season, the Braves declined Nick Markakis’s option but would sign him back at a team-friendly deal, so don’t be surprised to see Teheran back with the Braves next season.
Whether or not Teheran is brought back to the team, his option being declined is an end of an era of the Atlanta Braves. By declining to bring back Teheran, the Braves are diving headfirst into their young arms that are the future of this team. Teheran, likely, won’t be remembered with hostility or fondness. His time with the Braves will forever be immortalized with his Opening Day record, but other than that, Teheran’s career is pretty unremarkable. Whether it’s with the Braves or another team, I wish him luck for the rest of his career.