Rafael Montero Leaves AL West Behind for New Chapter with Braves
After years of underwhelming performances in the American League West, Rafael Montero is finally getting a fresh start—this time in the National League with the Atlanta Braves. The veteran right-handed reliever, who has spent the last seven seasons in the AL West, was traded from the Houston Astros to Atlanta in exchange for a player to be named later, with Houston also sending cash considerations to offset some of Montero’s hefty $11.5 million salary.
For Montero, this move marks the end of a tumultuous chapter in his career, especially during his brief and rocky tenure with the Seattle Mariners. Acquired by the Mariners in a trade with the Texas Rangers in December 2020, Montero was a once-promising prospect with the New York Mets but had long since fallen from grace. Despite his live arm, evidenced by a 95.4 mph average fastball in 2020, his major league numbers left much to be desired, and his stint with Seattle proved disastrous.
In 2021, Montero made 40 appearances for the Mariners, posting an abysmal 7.27 ERA and a -1.8 WAR. His time with Seattle reached its low point when the Mariners, in a baffling move, traded him—along with closer Kendall Graveman—to the Astros in the midst of a playoff push. The backlash from Mariners fans and players alike was swift and harsh, as the trade felt like a clear signal that Seattle wasn’t prioritizing a postseason run. To add insult to injury, Graveman thrived with the Astros, posting a 1.64 ERA in the playoffs, while Montero found success in Houston too, putting up a 2.37 ERA in 2022 and excelling during the Astros’ World Series run.
Montero’s time with the Astros wasn’t without its struggles, however. Despite signing a lucrative three-year, $34.5 million contract after the 2022 season, Montero’s performance never quite lived up to expectations. Over the past three seasons, he posted a 4.92 ERA with a troubling tendency to walk batters. His average fastball speed had dropped, and the consistency he showed in Houston was now a distant memory.
The Braves are hoping a change of scenery will reinvigorate the 34-year-old reliever, but whether Montero can rediscover his old form remains uncertain. For Mariners fans, however, this move is unlikely to stir up any nostalgia. After all, Montero’s legacy in Seattle is one they’d rather forget.