Tigers Land RHP Rafael Montero in Braves Trade

The Detroit Tigers Have completed a deal. They traded utility infielder Jim Jarvis to the Atlanta Braves A 34-year-old left-handed pitcher named Rafael Montero. The closer enjoyed several solid seasons between 2017 and 2022, yet has faced difficulties over the past three campaigns. This season, his 3.88 FIP indicates he performed better than his 5.40 ERA suggests; however, without significant improvements, Montero remains likely only suitable for setup roles and possibly as a specialist facing right-handed batters.

Montero has introduced one change to his pitching approach this season that could catch the attention of the Tigers. He now throws an 88 mph splitter, which has resulted in a 35.1% swing-and-miss percentage thus far. This pitch is improving his ability against left-handed hitters, although his control remains something to watch, highlighted by his current 13.9% walk rate. Alongside a 95 mph sinking fastball thrown from a very low arm slot, these elements suggest potential for a solid relief pitcher—but he doesn’t seem ready yet to take back a setup role following several seasons out of contention.

Montero primarily relies on two pitches, with these being his main weapons so far, and he only throws his sharp slider about 7 percent of the time. He maintains an effective 23.5 percent strikeout percentage, and has managed to cope with the significant home run issues that have kept him at a replacement-level performance over the last two seasons. Nevertheless, his high walk rate has proven problematic this season, resulting in him contributing 0.0 fWAR thus far.

I hope this isn't the sole action coming up next.

Regarding Jarvis, he's a solid minor league candidate who frequently makes contact and possesses some speed. However, he lacks the power needed to make an impact in the majors unless he undergoes significant changes and gains considerable strength. Even with those improvements, his potential remains below that of someone like Zach McKinstry. He performs well defensively at second and third base, but has had trouble handling plays at shortstop despite having the quickness, hand-eye coordination, and throwing ability to play virtually any position on the field.

In brief, the Tigers didn't truly lose much here, and this situation is somewhat similar to a waiver claim. Montero has allowed eight earned runs in his past four outings, suggesting he might have been released had someone not offered a minor league player in exchange for taking over the rest of his $11.5 million contract. This was part of a three-year agreement signed with the Houston Astros Before the 2023 season, the Braves acquired him to strengthen a struggling bullpen in early April, but it didn't pan out.

The trading deadline occurs at 6:00 p.m. ET on Thursday. The Tigers continue to be deeply involved in numerous discussions, but we'll need to observe whether any significant developments arise tomorrow.