Julio Teheran was not even born in 1990 when Steve Avery joined Tom Glavine and John Smoltz in the Braves' rotation. Atlanta, which added Greg Maddux for the 1993 season, won six Cy Young Awards in the decade.
Now Teheran, who just turned 21, is the junior member of a new youth movement in Atlanta.
Brandon Beachy, Mike Minor, Randall Delgado and Teheran combined to start 50 games as rookies last season. Beachy, who was 7-3 and led the team in strikeouts despite missing a month with an oblique injury, appears set as a 2012 starter.
Minor was 5-3 in 15 starts. Delgado won only one of his seven starts, but had a 2.83 ERA and allowed only a .220 batting average. Teheran, like Delgado, was 1-1.
Beachy said he hopes the team's young guns, including former New York Yankees prospect Arodys Vizcaino, can remain together in the organization.
"There were a lot of people calling for big moves to be made last year," Beachy said Thursday, referring to speculation one or more young pitchers might be traded. "Obviously, I don't get paid to make decisions like that, but I can't say I'm not happy and pleased to keep all the young arms intact.
"The future could be a lot of fun to be a part of another young wave running through this organization."
The insurance provided by the young pitchers could prove to be important.
Tim Hudson (back surgery), Tommy Hanson (shoulder) and Jair Jurrjens (knee) are coming off injuries.
Minor, Delgado and Teheran moved up when Hanson and Jurrjens were on the disabled list during the team's September collapse. Derek Lowe, since traded to Cleveland, was 0-5 in September as the Braves blew an 81/2-game wild card lead in the final month.
Beachy, who was 3-0 in August, was 0-1 with a 5.27 ERA in five starts in September. The right-hander said his final month keeps him from viewing his season as a success.
"I had a bitter taste in my mouth after my last three starts in September," Beachy said. "It just came down to one inning in each of those starts I let get away from me."
Indians' Cabrera gets $4.55 million deal
All-Star infielder Asdrubal Cabrera and the Cleveland Indians have agreed to a $4.55 million, one-year contract, avoiding arbitration.
Cleveland's best player last season, Cabrera hit .273 with 25 homers, 92 RBIs and 32 doubles. He made $2,125,000.
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