Rafael Montero - Page 12 - MLB News, Rumors, & Updates

Mariners bolster bullpen, get Montero in trade with Rangers

The Seattle Mariners have bolstered their bullpen by acquiring right-handed reliever Rafael Montero from the Texas Rangers

DECEMBER 15, 2020 • Associated Press

Rangers pick up 2 players in Montero trade The Rangers, continuing their rebuilding program, traded right-handed reliever Rafael Montero to the Mariners for Minor League right-hander...

DECEMBER 15, 2020 • MLB.COM

Report: Texas Rangers trade closer Rafael Montero to Seattle Mariners The Rangers’ busy offseason continued Tuesday afternoon, as the club sent sent closer Rafael Montero to the Seattle Mariners, according to a...

DECEMBER 15, 2020 • DALLASNEWS.COM

Shipped to Seattle Montero was traded from Texas to Seattle in exchange for Jose Corniell and a player to be named later Tuesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Impact Montero picked up the first eight saves of his career last season, though he didn't exactly production numbers worthy of a closer role for most teams, as his 4.08 ERA and 26.4 percent strikeout rate hardly popped off the page. He's now found himself on another team that's quite short on established bullpen arms, however, so he should have a good chance to add to his save total in the upcoming season.

DECEMBER 15, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Notches eighth save Montero had one strikeout and didn't allow a baserunner during the seventh inning to record the save in Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader against the Athletics.

Impact The right-hander threw eight of his 10 pitches for strikes and made quick work of Oakland to close out the matinee. Montero has converted all eight of his save chances and has a 2.13 ERA, 0.72 WHIP and 14:3 K:BB across 12.2 innings this season.

SEPTEMBER 12, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Semien 4 RBIs as A's win nightcap 10-1 for DH split in Texas

Marcus Semien drove in four runs, Chris Bassitt struck out eight over six innings and the Oakland Athletics earned a doubleheader split in Texas

SEPTEMBER 12, 2020 • Associated Press

Bregman gets big hit as Astros rally past Dodgers

SEPTEMBER 12, 2020 • Associated Press

Slams door on Houston Montero picked up the save against the Astros on Tuesday, allowing one unearned run on one hit in one inning. He did not strike out or walk any batters.

Impact Montero inherited a two-run lead in the extra-inning contest. He yielded a leadoff single to allow the designated runner on second base to score but avoided further damage by inducing a double-play groundout and a flyout. Montero is a perfect 7-for-7 in save opportunities this season while posting a 2.79 ERA over 9.2 innings.

SEPTEMBER 2, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Chapman's 1st save seals Yankees' 5-3 win over Tampa Bay

SEPTEMBER 2, 2020 • Associated Press

Works out of trouble to notch save Montero picked up a four-out save in Monday's 3-2 win over the Athletics, allowing no runs on two hits and a walk. He struck out two.

Impact Montero entered the game with two outs in the eighth and got Stephen Piscotty to strike out swinging. He got himself into a jam in the ninth, allowing singles to Tony Kemp and Marcus Semien before walking Ramon Laureano to load the bases with just one out. Fortunately for Montero and the Rangers, he struck out Matt Olson looking and got Matt Chapman to fly out to end the game. The right-hander has six saves on the season to go along with a 3.53 ERA and nine strikeouts in 7.2 innings pitched.

AUGUST 25, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Lynn gets 4th win as Rangers snap 8-game skid, 3-2 over A's

The Texas Rangers have won their first game in more than a week

AUGUST 25, 2020 • Associated Press

Báez homers twice, Cubs top Tigers 9-3 for 11,000th victory

AUGUST 25, 2020 • Associated Press

Saddled with loss Montero (0-1) allowed four runs (three earned) in the 10th inning and picked up the loss to San Diego on Wednesday. He allowed one hit and two walks before ceding a walkoff grand s...

Impact Montero entered the game in the ninth inning when the score was tied, so it was not a save situation in the 10th after Texas took the lead. The Rangers' closer had not allowed an earned over his first five appearances but couldn't shut the door on the Padres, who worked the first two walks of the season off Montero.

AUGUST 20, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Machado's grand slam in 10th lifts Padres over Rangers 6-3

Manny Machado hit a grand slam with one out in the 10th inning and the San Diego Padres beat the Texas Rangers for the third straight game, 6-3

AUGUST 20, 2020 • Associated Press

Rocky effort for fifth save Montero allowed an unearned run on a hit and struck out two in one inning to earn the save Saturday versus the Rockies.

Impact Raimel Tapia reached on catcher's interference to lead off the ninth inning, and Ryan McMahon scored him on a double, but Montero retired the next three batters in order. The unearned run won't harm Montero's 0.00 ERA, and the hit was also the first he's allowed in five innings this year. The 29-year-old has a firm grasp on the closer role in Texas.

AUGUST 16, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Gibson, Dietrich lead Rangers to a 6-4 win over Rockies

Kyle Gibson pitched into the seventh inning on the way to his first win with Texas and newly signed Derek Dietrich hit a two-out, three-run home run in the eighth as the Rangers be...

AUGUST 16, 2020 • Associated Press

Duvall's homer in 9th inning lifts Braves past Marlins 2-1

AUGUST 16, 2020 • Associated Press

Notches another save Montero got the save Wednesday against the Mariners after tossing a scoreless ninth inning, striking out one.

Impact Another appearance, another scoreless outing for Montero. The 29-year-old is 4-for-4 in save chances and is yet to allow a run or a walk in his four appearances, striking out four. He has been lights out as the team's closer since stepping in for Jose Leclerc (shoulder) and should remain a reliable late-inning arm out of the bullpen for the foreseeable future.

AUGUST 13, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Dietrich debuts as Rangers rally in 8th for 7-4 win over M's

Derek Dietrich reached base four times in his Texas debut and the Rangers scored five runs in the eighth inning for a 7-4 win over the Seattle Mariners

AUGUST 13, 2020 • Associated Press

Cubs top Tribe 7-2; Chicago's 12-3 start is best in 50 years

AUGUST 13, 2020 • Associated Press

Earns third save of season Montero notched his third save of the season Tuesday against the Mariners. He pitched a scoreless inning and struck one.

Impact Montero continues to look dominant as the new Rangers closer, going 3-for-3 on save opportunities and is yet to allow hits or runs in any of those outings, striking out three. Texas manager Chris Woodward already confirmed Montero as the new closer following Jose Leclerc's shoulder injury, and he has done nothing but respond to that confidence with three strong performances.

AUGUST 12, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Solak gets 3 singles, 3 RBIs as Rangers beat Mariners 4-2

Nick Solak singled three times and drove in three runs, leading the Texas Rangers to a 4-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners

AUGUST 12, 2020 • Associated Press

Shaw, Blue Jays beat Marlins 5-4 in MLB's return to Buffalo

AUGUST 12, 2020 • Associated Press

Named the closer Texas manager Chris Woodward confirmed Montero is the closer with Jose Leclerc (shoulder) on the injured list, T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reports.

Impact Montero closed out games Friday and Saturday and has emerged as the replacement closer. Earlier this week, Woodward was leaning toward a committee, but Montero's efforts the last two games stabilizes late-inning roles. Jonathan Hernandez will be the primary eighth-inning setup man.

AUGUST 9, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Nabs second save Montero worked a perfect ninth inning Saturday to record his second save of the season in a 2-0 win over the Angels.

Impact The Rangers wasted no time plugging Montero into their vacant closer spot after he came off the injured list Friday, and the right-hander has now picked up saves on consecutive nights. As long as he can stay healthy, Montero should provide some stability in the ninth as he looks to build on his comeback performance in 2019.