Afternoon Chop: Atlanta Braves’ News 2/14/14
October 6, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher
Julio Teheran(49) returns to the dugout after the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game three of the National League divisional series playoff baseball game at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Atlanta Braves Sign Future Ace Julio Teheran To Smart, Long-Term Deal
The Atlanta Braves have signed Julio Teheran to a six-year contract through the 2019 season with an option for the 2020 season. The guaranteed money is $32.4 million and the option year is worth $12 million. This is big news to Braves fans to see that the team has signed another one of their young core players to a long-term deal.
Teheran, who is just 22-years-old, has gone 15-9 in his time with the big club and holds a career ERA of 3.44. He finished fifth in the NL Rookie of the Year race behind guys such as Jose Fernandez, Yasiel Puig, Shelby Miller and Hyun-jin Ryu. In 2013, Teheran made great strides in becoming one of the best young pitchers in the NL with an ERA of 3.20 and struck out 170 batters in 185.2 innings pitched. He gets around 7.9 strikeouts per nine innings he pitches and averages just over three strikeouts per walk he allows.
Julio Teheran and Hidden Inflation
Today, Julio Teheran joined the ever growing ranks of young players to sign long term deals early in their careers, agreeing to a six year contract with the Braves that guarantees him $32.4 million, according to Ken Rosenthal. Because he has just one year of service time, this deal buys out two remaining pre-arb years, three arbitration seasons, and then his first free agent year, while also giving the Braves an option for a second free agent year at just $12 million.
The easy comparison is the Madison Bumgarner deal signed in April of 2012. Because that deal was completed after opening day, it’s officially only a five year extension, but in reality, it covers the same time period as this deal for Teheran, and could be more accurately described as a six year deal since the extension didn’t kick in for 12 months from the signing date. Bumgarner got $35 million in guaranteed money for those six years, and he gave up two free agent years as team options for $12 million. Teheran got a little less in guaranteed money, but also surrendered one fewer free agent year. Regardless, the two deals are very similar, and there’s little question that the Braves used Bumgarner’s contract as something of a template for this Teheran deal.
Braves Rotation: Lacking Studs, Boasting Depth
For many in my generation, when one thinks of starting pitching, the focus immediately turns to Atlanta. It’s been an overwhelming constant for the Braves, whether we’re talking Greg Maddux, John Smoltz, Tim Hudson or (at least last year) Mike Minor. In fact, since The Strike, the Atlanta Braves have enjoyed the best starting pitching in Major League Baseball. Their cumulative 3.73 ERA is well-ahead of the pack, with the Los Angeles Dodgers being the only other team with a sub-4.00 ERA from their starters since the 1995 season.
Thus, it’s not surprising the Braves trotted out yet another effective rotation last year. Even without the injured Brandon Beachy, their rotation featured three top-30 fantasy starters in Mike Minor, Julio Teheran and Kris Medlen. The trio are poised to headline the rotation once again in 2014, so in terms of a fantasy outlook, there’s plenty to like.
BREAKING: Braves, Julio Teheran agree to six-year, $32.4 million extension
Julioio Teheran is the next of the Braves’ young players to get a massive contract extension. The team announced a six-year contract with the 23-year-old right handed pitcher, with an option to extend it through 2010, which would cover Teheran’s first two years of free agency.
The six guaranteed years are for $32.4 million, with the seventh-year option worth $12 with a $1 million buyout.