The Detroit Tigers need to consider signing starter Julio Teheran for depth
By Bob Heyrman
The Detroit Tigers should kick the tires on free-agent starting pitcher Julio Teheran.
Last season the Tigers brought in Teheran on a one-year deal worth $3 million, which only lasted five innings before the 31-year-old was shut down with a shoulder strain that inevitably ended his season.
Teheran, along with two other former Detroit Tigers, Anibal Sanchez, and Erasmo Ramirez, held a throwing showcase about a month ago, hoping to prove they are fully healthy and ready to contribute to a Major League team this season.
Nearly immediately following the throwing session, Sanchez received a contract offer from the Washington Nationals. The 32-year-old Ramirez eventually inked a minor league deal with Washington’s Triple-A club in Rochester. Sanchez is currently on the 10-day Injured List (IL).
Julio Teheran is someone the Detroit Tigers need to consider signing for a rotational depth as injuries continue to mount.
Teheran is a two-time All-Star hit 94 MPH during his showcase, and mixed in a new pitch he recently added to his repertoire, a split-change, a combination of a splitter and changeup.
Colombian RH @Julio_Teheran threw 40 pitches in his exhibition today in Miami. FB 91-94 MPH. He used all of his pitches, including a "split-changeup" he recently added to his repertoire. https://t.co/miszhpNRTt
— Enrique Rojas/ESPN (@Enrique_Rojas1) March 17, 2022
Teheran owns a career record of 78-77 with an ERA of 3.80 with a WHIP of 1.224.
The Detroit Tigers are stricken by injuries, and we are just two weeks into the 2022 regular season. Over the weekend, the Tigers placed future ace Casey Mize on the IL with an elbow issue. There doesn’t seem to be much concern within the organization at this point. Still, once you start messing around with elbow issues with pitchers, it almost feels like the ever so common Tommy John Surgery becomes inescapable. Let’s hope this isn’t the case, but I am feeling a bit uneasy about the situation at the moment.
Saturday, Matt Manning was lifted following just two innings of work with a shoulder issue. The team announced following the game that the decision was a precautionary move, and there is hope Manning will be ready to take the ball on his next turn through the rotation without any limitations.
The Tigers are expected to insert veteran right-hander Michael Pineda into the starting rotation in place of Casey Mize. The organization also recently purchased the contract of Wily Peralta, who performed nicely last season in and out of the starting rotation.
If there are any more injuries, the Detroit Tigers may elect to bring up the organization’s no. 9 overall prospect from Toledo, Joey Wentz, or Alex Faedo, to take a turn or two through the rotation.
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The Detroit Tigers should consider bringing Teheran in on a minor league deal to work in Toledo in a depth role, knowing he’s had plenty of success at the Major League level as a viable contingency plan in case more injuries occur or someone in the rotation or bullpen happens to falters.