DETROIT — The Detroit Tigers acquired veteran right-handed reliever Rafael Montero in a trade with the Atlanta Braves late Wednesday night.
The Tigers are trying to shore up their struggling bullpen ahead of Thursday afternoon’s trade deadline.
They sent minor-league infielder Jim Jarvis to Atlanta in exchange for Montero.
The Tigers designated right-handed reliever Tyler Owens for assignment to create a 40-man roster spot for Montero and will have to open an active roster spot before Friday’s game in Philadelphia.
Montero, 34, was a high-leverage reliever and occasional closer for the World Series champion Houston Astros in 2022 but has largely struggled since then.
This season with the Astros and Braves, he has a 5.50 ERA over 34 1/3 innings, with 34 strikeouts and 21 walks.
Over his last four outings, he’s given up eight runs on six hits in 3 1/3 innings, walking five and striking out two.
A native of the Dominican Republic, Montero has pitched in 360 games over parts of 11 major league seasons with the New York Mets, Texas Rangers, Seattle Mariners, Astros, and Braves.
Why did the Tigers trade for a pitcher whose profile is similar to some of the waiver-wire pickups and minor-league free agents (Carlos Hernández, Geoff Hartlieb, Luke Jackson) they’ve cycled through recently?
Despite questions about his control, Montero has shown the ability to miss bats, with a chase rate, whiff rate and strikeout rate all above league average. He throws primarily a splitter and a four-seam fastball.
Jarvis, 24, was drafted by the Tigers in the 11th round out of the University of Alabama in 2023. He had been assigned to Double-A Erie, playing second base, third base and shortstop.
Owens, 24, was acquired from the Texas Rangers in the Carson Kelly deal a few days before the 2024 trade deadline and was added to the 40-man roster this winter.
Originally drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 13th round in 2019, Owens was traded to the Rangers before the 2024 season. He had a 2.96 ERA in 51 2/3 innings in 2024, walking 16 and striking out 55 with a fastball-slider mix.
He’s pitched three innings over a handful of big-league stints this year but has spent most of the year at Triple-A Toledo.
Owens is currently on the minor-league injured list, recovering from a right hip injury.
TIGERS’ 40-MAN ROSTER (40)
Left-handed pitchers (6): Dietrich Enns, Tyler Holton, Bailey Horn, Brant Hurter, PJ Poulin, Tarik Skubal.
Right-handed pitchers (16): Beau Brieske**, Jack Flaherty, Sawyer Gipson-Long*, Brenan Hanifee, Luke Jackson, Tommy Kahnle, Chase Lee, Matt Manning, Tyler Mattison, Troy Melton, Casey Mize, Keider Montero, Rafael Montero, Chris Paddack, Dylan Smith**, Will Vest.
Catchers (2): Dillon Dingler, Jake Rogers.
Infielders (9): Javier Báez, Jace Jung, Andy Ibáñez, Colt Keith, Ryan Kreidler, Zach McKinstry, Trey Sweeney, Spencer Torkelson, Gleyber Torres.
Outfielders (7): Kerry Carpenter, Riley Greene, Jahmai Jones, Justyn-Henry Malloy, Parker Meadows*, Wenceel Pérez, Matt Vierling.
*On 10-day or 15-day injured list
**On minor-league injured list
Left-handed pitcher Sean Guenther (left hip surgery); and right-handed pitchers Alex Lange (right lat strain and surgery), José Urquidy (Tommy John surgery), Ty Madden (rotator cuff strain), Alex Cobb (right hip inflammation), Jason Foley (shoulder surgery), Jackson Jobe (Tommy John surgery) and Reese Olson (shoulder strain) are on the 60-day injured list and do not count against the 40-man roster.
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