The Atlanta Braves’ bullpen is clearly in a transitional phase. The departure of AJ Minter in free agency and the injury to Joe Jiménez have seriously impacted the team’s depth. To make matters worse, closer Raisel Iglesias is showing signs of concern. Instead of pursuing a single, high-profile reliever, the Braves have opted for a depth-based strategy, adding several options—including this top pitcher.
His arrival was met with understandable skepticism. While he does offer some swing-and-miss ability and had a strong season with the Astros a few years ago, his performance after signing a lucrative contract quickly deteriorated. So much so that Houston eagerly unloaded him.
Unfortunately, the Braves are discovering why. Montero’s struggles haven’t improved in Atlanta, and with other more reliable arms in similar roles, it’s time for the Braves to move on from the experiment.
Rafael Montero has proven unreliable, and the Braves need to act accordingly
Thursday’s extra-innings win against the Reds perfectly encapsulated the Montero dilemma. After a solid outing from rookie Spencer Schwellenbach, Montero was called upon in the seventh to protect a narrow 2–1 lead. He started with a lineout, then walked a batter, gave up a double, and issued another walk to load the bases. Dylan Lee had to come in and limit the damage, but the inning was already compromised.
This isn’t an isolated incident—Montero’s control issues date back to his time in Houston and have only worsened in Atlanta. Through 11 appearances and 8.2 innings with the Braves, he’s issued 11 walks. No matter how impressive his stuff may look, that level of wildness is simply unacceptable from a reliever.
Adding to the case for his departure, the Braves already have more dependable options for middle relief. Pierce Johnson has stepped up in high-pressure situations, and while Enyel De Los Santos has had some shaky moments, he’s shown greater consistency and upside in a similar role.
So what value does Montero actually bring to this roster? At this point, not much. If the Braves merely need someone to fill a bullpen spot, they have minor league arms who are less likely to unravel when called upon.
