Detroit Tigers acquire reliever Rafael Montero in trade with Atlanta Braves

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.

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 left-handed hitter, an 11th-round pick out of Alabama in 2023, had a .652 OPS with the SeaWolves this season.

Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Rafael Montero (48) in action during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Atlanta Braves at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on July 25, 2025.

In 2025, Montero has a 5.40 ERA with 23 walks and 39 strikeouts across 38⅓ innings in 39 games. He ranks in the second percentile with a 13.9% walk rate, though his 23.5% strikeout rate is more respectable in the 58th percentile.

The one clear positive: Montero ranks in the 76th percentile with a 28.9% whiff rate. He should help a Tigers bullpen that ranks 29th in MLB with a 22.7% whiff rate, even if he struggles to find the strike zone.

Since July 5, Montero is responsible for 12 runs (11 earned runs) with seven walks and six strikeouts in 8⅔ innings in nine relief appearances. Before that stretch, he had a 3.60 ERA in 30 innings in his first 30 outings.

He throws four pitches: splitter (47.3%), four-seam fastball (42.1%), slider (7.1%) and sinker (3.4%). His fastball averages 95.2 mph; his splitter generates a 35.1% whiff rate and limits hitters to a .192 batting average.

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Montero owns a 4.76 ERA in his 11-year MLB career.

Before joining the Tigers, Montero pitched for the New York Mets (2014-17), Texas Rangers (2019-20), Seattle Mariners (2021), Houston Astros (2021-25) and Braves (2025). He won the World Series with the Astros in 2022 — the best season of his career.

It has been all downhill since.

Montero has a 5.06 ERA in his last 144 innings, dating back to the start of the 2023 season.

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. He is the Tigers' No. 26 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline.

The Tigers still need to add Montero to the 26-man roster by making a corresponding move, which is expected to happen Friday, Aug. 1, before the series opener against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.

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