The New York Yankees announced today that they have invited RHP Rafael Montero to 2026 Major League spring training. The number of players currently scheduled to report to spring training is 71.
Montero, 35, has gone 23-30 with 30 saves and a 4.68 ERA (522.2IP, 509H, 295R/272ER, 247BB, 517K, 62HR) in 380 career games (30 starts) over parts of 11 Major League seasons with the New York Mets (2014-17), Texas Rangers (2019-20), Seattle Mariners (2021), Houston Astros (2021-2025), Atlanta Braves (2025) and Detroit Tigers (2025). The right-handed pitcher went 1-2 with a 4.48 ERA (60.1IP, 42H, 34R/30ER, 37BB, 58K, 5HR) in 59 combined relief appearances with Houston, Atlanta and Detroit last season. Montero began the 2025 season with Houston before being acquired by Atlanta in exchange for a player to be named later (RHP Patrick Halligan) on April 8, 2025. He was then acquired by Detroit from Atlanta in exchange for INF Jim Jarvis on July 30, 2025. The Higuerito, D.R., native was originally signed by the Mets as a non-drafted free agent on January 20, 2011.
