The New York Yankees have agreed to a minor league contract with right-handed pitcher Rafael Montero, with an invitation to major league spring training, according to multiple reports confirmed Thursday and Friday.
The deal, first reported by MLB insider Héctor Gómez, includes a $1.8 million base salary should Montero make the Yankees’ major league roster, along with a $500,000 signing bonus, as reported by SI.com. The Yankees confirmed the signing but did not disclose financial terms.
Montero, 35, spent the 2025 season with the Houston Astros, Atlanta Braves, and Detroit Tigers, posting a combined 4.48 ERA over 60 ⅓ innings pitched. He recorded 58 strikeouts and 37 walks. While with Detroit, Montero was on the playoff roster but did not perform well in his limited appearance, failing to retire any of the three batters he faced in a bullpen game during the American League Division Series against the Seattle Mariners, according to MLB.com.
The Yankees are adding Montero to a bullpen competition following the departure of Devin Williams and Luke Weaver during the offseason, and have not yet replaced them with established relievers. According to the New York Post, David Bednar, Fernando Cruz, and Tim Hill are considered locks for bullpen positions, with Ryan Yarbrough and Paul Blackburn likely to join them if the Yankees’ starting rotation remains healthy.
Manager Aaron Boone expressed optimism about the potential of the Yankees’ pitching depth on Wednesday, stating, “I think it has a chance to be [a strength],” and attributing it to the team’s “overall pitching depth.”
Montero previously pitched for the New York Mets, making his major league debut with the team in 2014. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2018. He was a key part of the Houston Astros’ World Series championship team in 2022, posting a 2.37 ERA during the regular season. The Yankees will be evaluating Montero alongside a group of other pitchers vying for bullpen spots, including Brent Headrick, Cade Winquest, Yerry De los Santos, Angel Chivilli, and Kervin Castro.
The Yankees also recently acquired Cade Winquest as a Rule 5 pick, and Osvaldo Bido via waivers, adding further competition for the final bullpen positions. The team cannot option Winquest or Bido, adding to the complexity of roster decisions, according to MLB Trade Rumors.
