Astros DFA Montero in 2nd season of $34.5M deal

The Houston Astros designated reliever Rafael Montero for assignment, the club announced Wednesday.

Montero was in the second season of a three-year, $34.5-million contract he signed in November 2022.

Astros general manager Dana Brown said the team hopes the right-hander will go down to Triple-A but that the pitcher has to first talk to his family and agent, according to Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle.

The 33-year-old posted a 4.70 ERA with a 1.41 WHIP and 23 strikeouts over 41 appearances in 2024. He's authored a 4.94 ERA with a 5.16 FIP and minus-0.8 fWAR across 105 2/3 innings since signing the deal.

Houston also optioned right-hander Seth Martinez to Triple-A to make room for trade deadline newcomers Yusei Kikuchi and Caleb Ferguson.