Braves acquire former Astros champion in trade

The 2021 World Series champions are adding a member of the 2022 World Series champions.

The Atlanta Braves announced to social media on Tuesday that they have acquired veteran reliever Rafael Montero in a trade with the Houston Astros. Atlanta will also be getting cash considerations from Houston in addition to Montero and will be sending a player to be named later to the Astros in return.

Jon Heyman of the New York Post further notes that the Astros will be covering the majority of the salary of Montero, who is owed $11.5 million this year in the final season of his contract.

Montero, a 34-year-old righty, starred in the bullpen of the Houston team that won the 2022 World Series. He posted a 2.37 ERA over 71 regular season appearances that year and was even more lights-out in the playoffs, turning in a 1.93 ERA with 10 strikeouts in nine innings pitched.

After Montero’s successful 2022 campaign, the Astros rewarded him with a three-year, $34.5 million contract. Unfortunately for them though, Montero subsequently failed to live up to that price tag and had posted an ugly 4.92 ERA in 112 total relief appearances in the two-plus seasons since then. At one point last season, Montero was even DFA’d, but he accepted an assignment to Triple-A and went on to make Houston’s Opening Day roster this season.

But after another shaky start by Montero with a 4.50 ERA in his first three relief appearances this year, the Astros are cutting their losses on him. Now the Braves, who are a horrific 1-8 right now, will try their luck with Montero as a likely middle reliever. He definitely won’t be any sort of savior for them though, especially since Atlanta’s biggest problems at the moment are on the offensive side of the ball.