The Yankees and Mets have always had a complicated relationship-part rivalry, part revolving door. And this offseason, that door has been spinning like a bullpen phone in the ninth inning.
The latest former Met to land in the Bronx? Rafael Montero, who’s joining the Yankees on a minor league deal.
Montero’s name might ring a bell for Mets fans, and not always for the right reasons. Once considered a top pitching prospect-rated higher than Jacob deGrom, no less-Montero’s early years in Queens were marked more by inconsistency than dominance.
While deGrom went on to become a generational ace, Montero’s path was far more winding. Now, after a few years of bouncing around the league, he’s back in New York, this time wearing pinstripes.
So, what’s Montero been up to?
It’s been a busy ride for Montero over the past year. He was traded not once, but twice in 2025-first from the Astros to the Braves in April, and then again at the trade deadline to the Tigers.
Despite the movement, one thing that stayed consistent was the hefty contract he carried: a three-year, $34.5 million deal he signed after a stellar 2022 season in Houston. That year, he posted a 2.37 ERA and even saw some time as the Astros' closer, which earned him the big payday.
But since then, it’s been a different story.
In 2023, Montero’s ERA ballooned to 5.08. In 2024, it dipped slightly to 4.70, but the underlying numbers painted a more concerning picture.
His walk rate climbed to 4.5 BB/9, and his strikeout rate fell to just 5.4 K/9 over fewer than 40 innings. Those are tough numbers for any reliever, especially one with a contract that suggests high-leverage expectations.
His time in Houston last season was short-lived, and a midseason move to Atlanta didn’t spark a turnaround. In fact, his ERA with the Braves rose to 5.50.
Still, the Tigers saw enough to take a chance on him at the deadline, and to their credit, they got some results. Over 22 innings in Detroit, Montero posted a 2.86 ERA.
But again, the peripherals didn’t quite back it up. His strikeout numbers continued to trend down, falling to 7.8 K/9.
That late-season ERA might make it look like the Yankees found a hidden gem, but the advanced metrics suggest otherwise. Detroit didn’t lean on him much in the postseason either-he made just one appearance, faced three batters, and didn’t record an out.
Why the Yankees made the move
This signing isn’t about Montero stepping into a key bullpen role on Day 1. It’s a minor league deal, and the Yankees are clearly taking a low-risk flyer on a once-promising arm.
They’ve made a few of these depth moves this offseason, adding names like Ali Sanchez, Zack Short, Kenedy Corona, and Dom Hamel. But Montero is easily the most recognizable of the bunch.
Once upon a time, Montero was the Mets’ No. 3 prospect heading into 2014-deGrom, ironically, was ranked 14th that same year. deGrom went on to win Rookie of the Year. Montero did make it to the big leagues, but his Mets tenure never matched the hype.
From 2014 to 2017, he threw 192.1 innings with a 5.38 ERA. Most of that came in 2017, when he logged 119 innings.
An injury wiped out his 2018 season, and the Mets released him afterward.
Now, nearly a decade after his debut, Montero is back in New York with a chance to prove there’s still something left in the tank. For the Yankees, it’s a no-pressure addition-if he finds the form that earned him that big contract in Houston, it’s a win. If not, they move on.
In the end, it’s a classic low-risk, high-upside move. And in a bullpen that’s always looking for depth and upside, Montero’s journey is far from over.