Latest news with #RafaelMontero
Yahoo
04-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Tigers acquire veteran reliever in Braves trade
The post Tigers acquire veteran reliever in Braves trade appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Detroit Tigers made a small trade earlier this week, acquiring Chris Paddack from the Minnesota Twins. However, Detroit is still seeking upgrades ahead of Thursday's MLB Trade Deadline. On Wednesday night, the Tigers addressed a need in the bullpen through a trade involving Atlanta Braves veteran Rafael Montero. Montero is going to the Tigers in a trade, Detroit announced on social media. In return, Atlanta received one minor league player. Infielder Jim Jarvis is on his way to the Braves organization as part of this deal. This marks the third team Montero has played for. The 34-year-old played for the Houston Astros before joining the Braves this season. The Tigers are one of the best teams in baseball, and are finding their groove again. After a brutal 1-12 slump, Detroit has rattled off four straight wins. They swept the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday. And they have scored at least five runs in each of the last four games. Tigers have sought bullpen upgrades before MLB Trade Deadline Detroit has found a lot of success to this point in the season, post-All-Star break slump notwithstanding. However, there has been a clear need that has emerged over the last few months. The Tigers have a bullpen that could use some work. Detroit's bullpen isn't terrible or anything of the sort. But there are some major red flags that could spell disaster come October. The Tigers' bullpen does not strike out a ton of hitters. They rank 18th for strikeouts as a unit. Moreover, they are prone to the home run ball, giving up the sixth most homers in MLB. Montero certainly won't address these issues on his own. However, he could be a reclamation project for this team. He owns an expected ERA of 3.26 and an expected opposing batting average of .219. This suggests there may be something he can offer in the right environment. The Tigers have a chance to win the World Series in 2025. And they are likely to add a couple more pieces to this team before the MLB Trade Deadline. Let's see what Detroit has up its sleeve before 6 PM Thursday evening. Related: 1 last-minute trade Detroit Tigers must make before 2025 deadline Related: Tigers rumors: Why Detroit is hesitant to go after Eugenio Suarez at trade deadline
Yahoo
04-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Detroit Tigers trade grade for Rafael Montero: One of worst MLB relievers from 2023-25
PHILADELPHIA — The Detroit Tigers traded for veteran right-handed reliever Rafael Montero for Double-A infielder Jim Jarvis in a deal Wednesday, July 30, with the Atlanta Braves. Here's how Evan Petzold, the Tigers beat writer for the Detroit Free Press, evaluates the Montero trade ahead of the 2025 MLB trade deadline, providing a grade and analysis. Detroit Tigers trade for Rafael Montero Tigers acquire: RHP Rafael Montero. Braves acquire: INF Jim Jarvis. Grade: D. CHRIS PADDACK TRADE GRADE: Nobody better to replace Reese Olson? The buzz: The Tigers watched Seranthony Dominguez get traded to the Toronto Blue Jays, then Ryan Helsley to the New York Mets, then Jhoan Durán to the Philadelphia Phillies. A few hours after missing out on Helsley, the Tigers made their move for a bullpen addition by trading for right-handed reliever Rafael Montero, who has a 5.40 ERA in 39 games. Along with a 5.40 ERA, Montero is responsible for 21 walks and 34 strikeouts across 38⅓ innings. The 34-year-old ranks in the second percentile with a 13.9% walk rate and the 58th percentile with a 23.5% strikeout rate. Here's the No. 1 problem: From 2023-25, Montero ranks 164th out of 174 qualified relievers with a 5.06 ERA — ahead of only Joey Wentz, Jalen Beeks, José Ruiz, Trevor Richards, Carlos Hernández, Joe Mantiply, Nate Pearson, Scott McGough, John Brebbia and Tyler Kinley. The Tigers already tried and failed to fix Wentz, Hernández and Brebbia. [ MUST LISTEN: Make "Days of Roar" your go-to Detroit Tigers podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) ] In 2025, Montero had a 3.60 ERA in his first 30 innings, followed by an 11.88 ERA in his last 8⅓ innings. The Tigers' bullpen ranks 20th among the 30 MLB teams with a 4.16 ERA (and 26th with a 4.90 ERA since May 16), so when Montero is at his best, he can help. The glaring problem is he struggles to throw the ball in the strike zone, which leads to too many walks. The Tigers' bullpen also ranks 29th with a 22.7% whiff rate. Montero has a 28.9% whiff rate, good for the 76th percentile, but his above-average (but not elite) whiff rate doesn't justify the traffic he creates with the walks. To acquire Montero, the Tigers gave up infielder Jim Jarvis — an 11th-round pick in the 2023 draft out of Alabama who wasn't ranked on their top-30 prospects list, according to MLB Pipeline. Although Jarvis has experience at three infield positions, including shortstop, he hit just .242 with two home runs and a .652 OPS over 77 games at Double-A Erie. THE TRADE: Tigers acquire reliever Rafael Montero in trade with Braves This is the second Montero trade in less than four months, from the Houston Astros to the Braves in early April, then from the Braves to the Tigers in late July. His fastball averages 95 mph, and his splitter has a 35% whiff rate. The Tigers expect their pitchers to dominate the strike zone, which has been a mantra from president of baseball operations Scott Harris since his first day on the job. Montero doesn't do that. When the latest Montero trade happened, Braves fans celebrated that they wouldn't have to watch him pitch for the next two months, which exemplifies how poorly he has performed, especially over the past month. Montero, who won the 2022 World Series, becomes a free agent after the 2025 season. Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@ or follow him @EvanPetzold. Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at Order your copy of 'Roar of 125: The Epic History of the Tigers!' by the Free Press at This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers trade grade for Rafael Montero deal from Atlanta Braves
Yahoo
31-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Detroit Tigers acquire reliever Rafael Montero in trade with Atlanta Braves
The Detroit Tigers have added to their bullpen. The Tigers acquired right-handed reliever Rafael Montero on Wednesday, July 30, in a trade with the Atlanta Braves, less than 24 hours before the MLB trade deadline. The 34-year-old becomes a free agent after the 2025 season. To add Montero, the Tigers traded away 24-year-old infielder Jim Jarvis. Before the trade, Jarvis hit .242 with two home runs, 26 walks and 31 strikeouts in 77 games for Double-A Erie, with experience at shortstop, second base and third base. The Tigers selected him in the 11th round of the 2023 draft out of Alabama. FOLLOW ALONG: Detroit Tigers trade deadline rumors 2025: Tracking latest MLB updates, deals In 2025, Montero has a 5.40 ERA with 23 walks and 39 strikeouts across 38⅓ innings in 39 games. Among MLB pitchers, he ranks in the second percentile with a 13.9% walk rate and the 58th percentile with a 23.5% strikeout rate. Montero owns a 4.76 ERA in his 11-year MLB career. Right-handed reliever Tyler Owens — recovering from a right hip injury — was designated for assignment by the Tigers to create a spot for Montero on the 40-man roster. The Tigers still need to open a spot for Montero to join the 26-man roster, which is expected to happen Friday, Aug. 1, before the series opener against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. This story will be updated. Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@ or follow him @EvanPetzold. Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at Order your copy of 'Roar of 125: The Epic History of the Tigers!' by the Free Press at This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers trade for Rafael Montero from Atlanta Braves
Reuters
31-07-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Tigers acquire reliever Rafael Montero from Braves for minor leaguer
July 31 - The Detroit Tigers acquired right-handed reliever Rafael Montero from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for minor league infielder Jim Jarvis on Wednesday. Montero, 34, is in his 11th year in the majors, having made 360 career regular season appearances (30 starts) for the Mets (2014-17), Rangers (2019-20), Mariners (2021), Astros (2021-25) and Braves (2025). He also has made 15 playoff appearances, posting a 2.51 ERA across 14 1/3 innings for the World Series-winning 2022 Astros and the 2023 Astros. Combined between the Astros and Braves this season, Montero is 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA in 39 relief appearances, with 39 strikeouts. He has held opposing hitters to a .211 batting average and .657 OPS. Montero began the season with the Astros, making three appearances before being traded to Atlanta on April 8. With the Braves, Montero had one 13-game stretch from June 8-July 19 in which he posted a 1.93 ERA (3 earned runs in 14 innings). Jarvis, 24, was an 11th-round pick of the Tigers in the 2023 draft out of the University of Alabama. He has been playing second base, third base and shortstop at Double-A Erie, where he is batting 242 with two homers and 29 RBIs in 77 games this season. At the time of his trade, he was not listed among the top 30 Tigers prospects by MLB Pipeline. --Field Level Media
NBC Sports
09-04-2025
- Business
- NBC Sports
Braves add to bullpen depth by acquiring right-hander Rafael Montero from Astros
ATLANTA — The Braves added to their bullpen depth on Tuesday night by acquiring right-hander Rafael Montero from the Houston Astros along with $7.7 million that will cover just over 70% of his remaining salary. Atlanta will send the Astros a player to be named. Montero, 34, has a 4.71 ERA in 11 seasons. Of his 324 career games, only 30 came as a starter, including none since 2017. He allowed two runs and three hits over in four innings this season. 'They said he's been throwing the ball really well,' Braves manager Brian Snitker said of his team's scouts. 'He's a veteran. You kind of get a little excited when you get a guy like that.' Montero made his major league debut in 2014 with the New York Mets and has pitched the last five seasons for Houston. Montero is owed $10,696,237 from his $11.5 million salary in the final season of a $34.5 million, three-year contract. Houston will pay Atlanta $3.85 million each on May 1 and July 1. He signed the big contract ahead of the 2023 season and Montero's ERA more than doubled that year to 5.08. He was designated for assignment with a 4.70 ERA last July 31, then was assigned outright to Sugar Land and made 17 appearances for the Triple-A farm team. Restored to the major league roster last month, he had a 4.50 ERA in three appearances for Houston this season. Montero has a 3.81 ERA in 187 games with the Astros. He has 30 career saves, including 14 for Houston in 2022, when he contributed to a World Series championship. Montero had a 2.51 ERA in 15 postseason games with Houston. Houston will recall left-hander Bennett Sousa from Sugar Land to replace Montero on the active roster. The Braves did not immediately announce a roster move for Montero, who is expected to join the team on Wednesday.
