Tigers add 2022 World Series champ Montero in trade with Braves

DETROIT – The Tigers’ first bullpen deal ahead of Thursday’s Trade Deadline is a combination of a veteran reliever with postseason experience and a project for their pitching instruction department. Detroit acquired hard-throwing, mercurial right-hander Rafael Montero from Atlanta for Double-A infielder Jim Jarvis.

The 34-year-old Montero is an 11-year Major League veteran, including five seasons with the Astros. He wasn’t in Houston for A.J. Hinch’s managerial tenure there, but was part of the Astros’ 2022 World Series championship bullpen, recording a career-high 14 saves for Dusty Baker’s club. He has primarily been a setup man over his career with high strikeout rates and high walk rates.

TRADE DETAILS
Tigers receive: RHP Rafael Montero
Braves receive: Double-A INF Jim Jarvis

Montero has a 5.40 ERA and 3.88 FIP in 39 games between Houston and Atlanta. He went to the Braves in an April 8 trade for a prospect and cash. He has 39 strikeouts with 23 walks over 38 1/3 innings for the season, and his 32.2 percent chase rate ranks in the 89th percentile among Major League pitchers this year according to Statcast, which also ranks him in the 76th percentile with a 28.9 percent whiff rate.

Montero looked to be in his best form heading into trade season coming off an outstanding June with 11 strikeouts over 9 2/3 innings of three-run ball. However, he regressed in July, particularly out of the All-Star break. He allowed four runs on just two hits and two walks over 1 1/3 innings at Texas last Friday, then allowed three runs on three hits and two walks without retiring a batter on Monday at Kansas City. He tossed a scoreless inning a day later on a hit and a walk, but still struggled with command, throwing just 13 of 30 pitches for strikes over the two appearances.

Montero leans heavily on a combination of a mid-90s four-seam fastball (42.1 percent of his pitches this season) and an 88 mph splitter (47.2 percent of his pitches). The splitter, a pitch he added just this season, has a 35.1 percent whiff rate and a .192 average allowed on at-bats ending with it, and plays a big role in his high chase rate. His fastball has a 24.7 whiff rate and .231 batting average allowed, but a 95.4 mph average exit velocity.

For a team that preaches command in the strike zone, Montero is a project. But for a team that went into the Trade Deadline seeking swing-and-miss, Montero is a buy-low addition with a combination of upside and postseason experience. He has a 2.51 ERA over 15 career postseason games, all in 2022 and 2023. He allowed just seven hits over 14 1/3 innings in those contests, walking nine batters but striking out 18.

Jarvis was an 11th-round pick in the 2023 Draft out of the University of Alabama, and proved to be a useful, reliable, defense-first infielder at every level. He spent the entire season at Double-A Erie, where he hit .242 (67-for-277) with 14 doubles, three triples, two home runs, 29 RBIs and 37 runs scored while rotating between shortstop, second and third base.

To open a 40-man roster spot for Montero, the Tigers designated RHP Tyler Owens for assignment. Owens, acquired from Texas around last year’s Trade Deadline for Carson Kelly, pitched in three games for the Tigers across a couple stints, allowing a run on three hits over three innings with three walks and a strikeout. He spent the vast majority of the season at Triple-A Toledo, posting a 5.40 ERA over 28 appearances with 21 walks and 27 strikeouts over 30 innings. He went on the 7-day injured list in early July with a right hip injury, and started a rehab assignment at Single-A Lakeland last week.