Orioles Sign Two-Time All-Star Rotation Arm

The one and only focus in preparing for the 2024 season for the Baltimore Orioles has been, and rightfully so, the starting rotation. The big splash was the blockbuster trade acquisition of former Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes from the Milwaukee Brewers. They are still involved in some other potential trades, but for now they've added a depth piece off the free-agent market by signing 12-year veteran starter and two-time All-Star Julio Teheran.

Julio Teheran to Orioles. Minors deal with MLB camp invite. $2M in majors, with $100K signing bonus and opt out
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 28, 2024

It's a minor league deal that carries a $2 million salary if he makes the big club, and a $100,000 signing bonus. Teheran can also opt-out at certain points if he is not elevated to the major league roster.

It's a nice move for the O's, who certainly need rotation depth with the injury uncertainty surrounding Kyle Bradish and John Means, both being roughly a month behind schedule.

The 33-year-old Teheran started 11 games for the Brewers last season, posting a 4.40 ERA with a strong 1.13 WHIP and a 50:13 strikeout-to-walk ratio. In 2022 he was forced to try his hand in an independent league and then in Mexico after a couple of rough major league campaigns in 2020 and '21.

Teheran was an all-star in 2014 and 2016 with the Atlanta Braves, where he spent the first nine years of his MLB career. In a dozen seasons, he sports a 3.83 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. He's struck out an average of 7.7 batters per nine innings, though his fastball has been losing velocity and those numbers have dipped over the past few seasons.

Baltimore's starting rotation is currently set at the top three with Corbin Burnes, Grayson Rodriguez and Dean Kremer (until Bradish and Means return), so Teheran will compete for a spot at the back end of the starting staff, or perhaps as a long reliever.

Photo: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports