Pitcher, formerly of the Chicago Cubs, signs contract with AL contender Baltimore Orioles
The former pitcher for the Chicago Cubs has chosen to pitch for a team that is in contention after choosing to enter free agency at the beginning of June.
Early in the season, when they were leading the NL Central and had a comfortable hold on a Wild Card slot, the Chicago Cubs appeared to be a strong candidate for the postseason. This occurred concurrently with them dealing with pitching staff injuries and providing valuable lineup pieces.
Once those players were fit enough to return to the field, it was believed that the Cubs would improve significantly and have a genuine shot to win their division. Rather, there has never been a bigger divide. They have at least managed to move into the third Wild Card spot, tied with their rival St. Louis Cardinals, going into play on Tuesday. They are still seven games behind the leading Milwaukee Brewers.
Julio Teheran chose to become a free agent by opting out of his minor league contract, meaning that Chicago lost one of their possible depth alternatives to call upon should the team ever need to get healthy.
The Cubs signed the two-time All-Star in mid-April, but they never utilized him, presumably because he had an absurd 8.82 ERA in eight starts with their Triple-A affiliate.
Regardless of how bad his play has been in 2024, he entered free agency with the belief that some team will try to use him at the Major League level.
He’s found his suitor now. The Baltimore Orioles, with whom Teheran was affiliated from February 27 to March 23 of this spring before electing to forego that contract due to his failure to make the team’s Opening Day roster, have reportedly offered him a contract, according to Jon Heyman of The New York Post.
Though the Orioles, who are currently in contention in the American League, will be missing two of their starting pitchers due to season-ending UCL surgery, the 33-year-old might still play a role.
With all the injuries and bad outings their pitching staff has been having, Chicago didn’t really see Teheran as a realistic option, so this isn’t necessarily a significant loss, for them. Teheran could have been elevated at a different time.