April 9: Houston is protecting $7.7MM of Montero’s remaining wage, Charles Odum of the Related Press experiences. That’s on high of the $804K they’ve already paid him this 12 months. In whole, the Astros are paying about $8.5MM of Montero’s $11.5MM wage, leaving Atlanta on the hook for only a hair beneath $3MM. Montero joined the workforce as we speak, per a membership announcement, with Thompson optioned to open an energetic roster spot.
April 8: The Astros introduced a commerce sending reliever Rafael Montero and an undisclosed amount of money to the Braves for a participant to be named later. Houston recalled lefty reliever Bennett Sousa to take the vacated bullpen spot. Atlanta has not introduced any corresponding strikes. That they had a gap on their 40-man roster after waiving Chadwick Tromp and don’t must make an energetic roster transaction till Montero experiences to the workforce.
Montero, 34, is within the remaining season of a three-year free agent deal. He’s enjoying on an $11.5MM wage. The Astros are certainly paying down nearly all of that contract, although specifics on the money haven’t been reported. Proprietor Jim Crane struck early within the 2022-23 offseason to re-sign Montero on a $34.5MM funding. That was in between the dismissal of former basic supervisor James Click on and the hiring of present GM Dana Brown. It didn’t work out.
The veteran right-hander was rocked for a 5.08 earned run common over 67 1/3 innings within the first season. He posted a 4.70 ERA whereas strolling almost as many hitters as he struck out final 12 months. The Astros designated him for task across the commerce deadline. That appeared like it will formally finish his tenure within the group. Montero had greater than sufficient service time to elect free company whereas accumulating the remainder of his contract.
Montero as an alternative accepted an task to Triple-A after clearing waivers. He tossed 16 1/3 frames of four-run ball there to complete the season. Houston didn’t name him up final season however introduced him again to Spring Coaching as a non-roster invitee. Montero allowed six runs (5 earned) with 10 strikeouts and 7 walks throughout 8 2/3 innings to earn his approach again onto the MLB roster. He has made three common season appearances, working 4 frames of two-run ball with 5 punchouts.
The 11-year large league veteran sits within the 95-96 MPH vary along with his four-seam fastball. He tweaked his pitch combine this 12 months, in keeping with Statcast. Montero added a mid-80s splitter whereas scrapping his low-90s changeup. That’s now his high offspeed pitch towards lefty hitters. It’s too early to glean a lot from the outcomes, however opponents have whiffed on 5 of 12 swings towards it.
Atlanta evaluators have been intrigued sufficient by Montero’s type to plug him into the center innings. Daysbel Hernández and lengthy man Zach Thompson every have choices remaining. Lefty José Suarez is out of choices however has a pedestrian 5:4 strikeout-to-walk ratio by way of his first 4 appearances. Montero figures to displace somebody from that group — almost definitely Thompson — as soon as he joins the workforce.
It’s purely a wage dump for Houston. They have been by no means going to have the ability to shed nearly all of Montero’s contract. Getting out from beneath even a small portion of the deal ought to give them extra flexibility for deadline acquisitions. They’re inside a number of million {dollars} of the $241MM luxurious tax threshold, which they appear disinclined to surpass. No matter portion of Montero’s wage that the Braves assume will come off the Astros’ tax invoice.
Picture courtesy of Erik Williams, Imagn Pictures.
