The Mets have made their signing of right-hander Julio Teheran official today, announcing the move today. Fellow righty Michael Tonkin designated for assignment as the corresponding move, with Anthony DiComo of MLB.com among those to relay the move.
Tonkin, 34, was signed by the Mets to a major league deal in December. That pact came with a modest guarantee of $1MM, just a bit north of the $740K league minimum. One week into the season, the Mets have already used their bullpen a lot, with Tonkin tossing four innings over three appearances. He allowed two earned runs on six hits and one walk, striking out three.
Just about everyone in the Mets’ bullpen was used in yesterday’s doubleheader and most of them can’t be optioned to the minors, giving them little flexibility back there. They also needed a 40-man roster spot for Teheran, who was signed to bolster the rotation after the recent injuries to Kodai Senga and Tylor Megill. Those two factors have seemingly nudged Tonkin off the club and into the DFA gulf.
The Mets will now have one week to trade Tonkin or pass him through waivers. He’s coming off a solid bounceback season in 2023 after a bit of a journey in the wilderness. He pitched for the Twins from 2013 to 2017, then spent a few years traveling to pitch in Japan, Mexico, the Atlantic League’s Long Island Ducks and various minor league clubs.
He resurfaced with Atlanta last year and tossed 80 innings over 45 relief appearances with a 4.28 earned run average. He struck out 23.1% of batters faced in that time while giving out walks at a 7.1% clip. If any club is interested in adding a well-traveled veteran to their bullpen, Tonkin should be available to them in the next few days.
If Tonkin were to pass through waivers unclaimed, he would have the right to reject an outright assignment as a player with more than three years of major league service time. However, he lacks the five years of service necessary to both elect free agency and retain his salary, so perhaps he would decide to report to Triple-A and keep that $1MM flowing if that scenario comes to pass.
Bro is gonna see the Tigers in his nightmares
Twins will gladly add him to their assortment of relief arms at AAA St Paul, assuming he gets released.
they should have kept him, this way mets can continue their goal of losing 110 games this yr
What an intelligent comment. I am in awe, sir.
Johnny Troll-tah isn’t really known for his wise takes… sagacity evades him.
gotta say…. thank God. what was that?? he threw a pitch that got a dude, instead of like… watching for an outcome, he turns and curses…. bro needs to relax.
“nudged Tonkin off the club and into the DFA gulf.” Well done Mr. McDonald. You’re outdoing the comment section.
Well, he has negative WAR, so I guess it fits the narrative.
WAR is weird for pitchers, especially relievers. Tonkin has pitched only 4 innings but already has a -0.7 WAR. His ERA is only a 4.50 and his ERA+ is actually 111. Has six unearned runs and a FIP over 7.
Apparently had to do with him telling false stories about his time “back in NYM”
Between Teheran and Tonkin is there really a gulf in talent?
One is a struggling starter.
The other is a struggling reliever.
Iran to Vietnam quite a distance. And no Maddox (or Maddux).
Is he related to the Gulf of Tonkin Incident?
I wish they never fired Buck.
“Never fired Buck”..So do at least half their fans(if not more). It made little sense to fire an effective, seasoned manager in Showalter, in favor of a novice, rookie manager in Mendoza.
They fired Buck because they knew he wouldn’t take orders from the front office on how to manage the team.
Basically outside of the established managers they want puppets that they can tell what to do.
“Biddi-biddi-biddi-biddi …. What about Buck?” Twiki
Puppet managers is the way of the future. You’re are more than welcome to advocating recruiting one of the most successful old-school managers: Tony Larussa
Teheran, amongst one of the most overrated pitchers in Braves history. We never miss the days Faulty and Teheran took the mound as the Braves top starters.
Teheran will always be remembered for having masterfully pitched the last game at Turner Field, 12 strikeouts for Teheran as Atlanta defeated Detroit 1-0.
I hope this is a better resolution for Tonkin than the last Tonkin resolution.
@Turks444 Maybe he will go to one of the Gulf state teams.
Better he goes to the Sacramento River Cats. Everyone likes Tonkinese cats!
More important was why the resigned Otto. He was terrible last season & caused 2 losses in his 2 appearances. He’s keeping them from stealing by giving up extra base hits.
I’ve been saying how this guy wasn’t any good since I saw him last year on the Braves. Typical journeyman who has good stats in mopup duty. Drew Smith will be his succesor
Actually it was really a tale of two seasons. For most of the season he was very good, routinely pitching 2-3 innings and generally doing very well. They trusted him too until he started pitching worse. You saw him pitch against Mets and thought he was bad. That’s bias. I saw a white sox pitcher shut down the braves the other day. He wasn’t merely a guy getting lucky he was truly baffling hitters much of the year with that funky slot and odd movement. 1.08 WHIP at 80 innings last year despite struggles late.
You always have the best takes bro
As a long time, Mets fan when the Mets were in danger of losing some relievers who were out of options, I couldn’t understand why they kept this guy and his ERA should be higher as he gave up a 3-run bomb in extra innings that was counted as unearned runs!
Glad he is Gone!
To Carson Kelly at that!
FINALLY! WE WON’T LOSE IN EXTRA INNINGS ANYMORE!!!!!!
@blake312
Tonkin’s fault, or blame the hitters for not hitting.?
Both, Tonkin allowed 5 runs in the 10th inning Monday, 3 in extra innings Wednesday, Mets have only scored 16 runs this season though
Go and watch the game again. Infielders booting balls and Tonkin hurt by bloop hits.
Looks like Tonkin won’t have a chance to be lord of the rings. He’ll have to go back to playing with his Tonkin Trucks.
No he’s going Honky Tonkin
It’s been a while since the Tigers bruised a guy so bad that he gets DFA’d.
Imagine being a Mets fan and not seeing the error that led to Tonkin not getting out of the inning against Detroit, then Mets fans blame Tonkin instead of the infielder that made the poor play. Typical. Then he is brought into a situation with the game on the line, and the same thing, he gets the blame again. 3 outings and DFA’d, so fair.
Painful to watch that live
Tigers won those 2 games without hitting very many balls hard. Kelly’s HR was, but everything leading up to that were infield scribblers and bloop singles.
Heard he was good from and Braves fan that hates me.