The Houston Astros have locked up a key cog in their bullpen.
The team and reliever Rafael Montero agreed to a three-year, $34.5 million deal just a week after the reliever helped the Astros win their second World Series title, according to multiple reports.
Montero had by far the best season of his career, pitching to a 2.37 ERA out of the pen. In his 10 appearances in the postseason, the first of his career, he allowed just two earned runs in 9.1 innings (1.93 ERA).
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Montero's turnaround was one of the biggest surprises in the majors this year. Before being traded to Houston last year, he had a career ERA of 5.29 with three separate teams: the New York Mets, Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners.
Despite his struggles throughout his career, Houston took a flier on him and his then-7.27 ERA that year, and he immediately became a dominant force in an already stout bullpen.
Montero was traded along with Kendall Graveman at last year's trade deadline, a move that upset Mariners players because Graveman had been so good for them. Now that Montero is turning his career around, Seattle has another reason to hate the trade.
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The 32-year-old only made six appearances with the Astros in 2021 due to right shoulder discomfort ending his season in August. In those outings, he didn't allow a run in six innings. That was just a preview of what was to come in 2022.
The signing comes just a day after the Astros and general manager James Click parted ways despite winning it all just a week ago.
Montero was part of the Astros' combined no-hitter in Game 4 of the World Series along with Cristian Javier, Bryan Abre and Ryan Pressly.
Montero owned a 2.48 ERA in 2018 with the Rangers, but every other season he pitched his ERA was over 4.00, and he had two seasons with an ERA over 6.00.
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Instead, he will now be part of the most elite bullpen in baseball through 2025.
