The Atlanta Braves have agreed to a contract extension with pitcher Julio Teheran, reports Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports. Teheran’s deal guarantees the 23 year old right-hander $32.4 million over six years.
Teheran was already under team control through the 2018 season. This deal buys all his arbitration years and guarantees that the Braves control one free agent year with a team option of $12 million with a $1 million buyout for the 2020 season.
Signed out of his native Colombia at the age of 16, Teheran appeared on Baseball America’s top prospect lists for four straight seasons, topping out at No. 5 before the 2011 and 2012 seasons. He struggled in Triple-A in 2012, posting a 5.08 ERA with strikeout and walk rates of 16.8 percent, and 7.5 percent, respectively.
Teheran doesn’t have quite as impressive a track record as San Francisco Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner did when he signed a five year, $35 million extension with two team options after just two years of service time. Still, it’s a good deal for both sides. The Braves lock up what should be Teheran’s prime years at an affordable price, and Teheran gets security in case of an arm injury. Even if a Ricky Romero like downfall occurs, there isn’t that much money at stake for this to be a big risk for the Braves.
This is the second contract extension signed by a Braves player this offseason, as they recently locked up Freddie Freeman to an eight year, $135 million deal. They reportedly have interest in signing shortstop Andrelton Simmons to a contract extension as well. On the other hand, homegrown talents Craig Kimbrel and Jason Heyward appear unlikely to sign long-term deals.
