The Atlanta Braves’ bullpen is currently undergoing a significant transition. The departure of AJ Minter in free agency and the injury to Joe Jiménez have left the relief corps depleted. Now, closer Raisel Iglesias is also raising concerns with his performance. Instead of pursuing a high-profile reliever, Atlanta has taken a broader approach by bringing in multiple options, including Rafael Montero.
Montero’s acquisition was met with skepticism—and for good reason. Although he’s shown some ability to generate strikeouts and once had a strong season with Houston, his performance drastically declined after signing a large contract. The Astros quickly moved on from him, and now it’s becoming clear why.
The Braves have struggled to resolve Montero’s issues, and with stronger options available in the bullpen, it may be time to move on. Montero has not been dependable, and his recent outing against the Reds illustrated that. Entering the game in the seventh with a narrow lead, he quickly fell apart—issuing two walks and surrendering a double to load the bases before being pulled.
This isn’t an isolated incident. Montero has consistently struggled with control dating back to his time in Houston, and it’s only worsened in Atlanta. Over just 8.2 innings in 11 appearances, he has issued an alarming 11 walks—an unacceptable rate for any reliever, no matter how good their raw stuff might be.
Given the more reliable arms the Braves already have—like Pierce Johnson and Enyel De Los Santos—Montero’s role on the team is increasingly unclear. If the team simply needs depth, there are better, more stable options available in the minors. For now, continuing the Montero experiment seems to offer little value to the Braves’ bullpen.
