With Relievers in Demand, Tigers Make Low-Key Trade to Bulk Up Bullpen

In the wake of two big-name relievers being traded, the Detroit Tigers made a subtle but significant addition ahead of the trade deadline. They acquired veteran reliever Rafael Montero from the Braves on Wednesday. It’s not the kind of move that shakes up a roster, but for a bullpen trying to steady itself through a shaky stretch, it could be exactly what Detroit needs.

Montero, 33, has bounced between Atlanta and Houston this year, posting a .287 wOBA and 42.6% hard-hit rate across 164 batters faced. His underlying metrics suggest a stabilizing presence: a 95 mph fastball, a lively splitter with 35 inches of vertical drop, and a four-pitch mix that limits barrels even when strikeouts aren't piling up.

Detroit’s bullpen has leaned heavily on Will Vest, Tommy Kahnle, and Tyler Holton. Vest has emerged as the closer, Kahnle is a reliable veteran, and Holton gives the staff a versatile lefty. But the group has been taxed. Injuries and inconsistency have led to player turnover in the middle innings.

Montero slides in as a right-handed bridge option.

He will likely pitch in lower-leverage situations but with the flexibility to go multiple innings. He adds depth behind the core group and gives A.J. Hinch another matchup option as the Tigers try to protect a shrinking lead in the AL Central.

It’s a low-cost move with potential upside.

Montero’s experience and command profile match Detroit’s philosophy: throw strikes, stay calm, and eat innings when the rest of the bullpen is spent.

If the Tigers chase a bigger-name reliever before the deadline, Montero’s role might shrink. But for now, he gives them some stability in the middle innings.

And that’s precisely the kind of piece a postseason bullpen needs.