Braves make a trade for Rafael Montero
Right now, the Braves are battling the first place Phillies as they look for their second win of the season. But that is not stopping Alex Anthopoulos from making some moves, acquiring right-handed pitcher Rafael Montero from the Astros for a Player To Be Named Later. Astros have traded RHP Rafael Montero and cash considerations […] The post Braves make a trade for Rafael Montero appeared first on SportsTalkATL.com.
Right now, the Braves are battling the first place Phillies as they look for their second win of the season. But that is not stopping Alex Anthopoulos from making some moves, acquiring right-handed pitcher Rafael Montero from the Astros for a Player To Be Named Later.
Astros have traded RHP Rafael Montero and cash considerations to the Braves in exchange for a PTBNL.
— Julia Morales (@JuliaMorales) April 9, 2025
The Braves bullpen is in utter despair, already costing the club several games, and this is the perfect example of the type of moves they’re going to have to attempt to fix it.
A few years ago, Rafael Montero was a stud for the Astros, posting a 2.37 ERA over 71 appearances in 2022 and helping them to a World Series. It was a season he parlayed into a three-year, $34.5 million contract, one that he hasn’t even come close to living up to.
Montero posted a 5.08 ERA in 2023 and a 4.70 ERA last year. So far this season, he’s recorded a 4.50 ERA through three appearances, but he has struck out 11.3 batters per nine innings and his 2.07 FIP suggests he’s been the subject of some poor luck.
The Astros are sending a significant amount of cash in the deal to cover some of Rafael Montero’s salary. He’ll likely join the Braves in the coming days, but this feels like a case of too little too late.
The Braves watched A.J. Minter leave in free agency while Joe Jimenez went down with a season ending injury, and they decided not to do anything about it during the offseason. That was a mistake, and now Alex Anthopoulos is scrambling trying to right his wrongs.
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Photo: Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sports
The post Braves make a trade for Rafael Montero appeared first on SportsTalkATL.com.
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