Atlanta Braves fans awoke on Wednesday to the news that the team had traded for Rafael Montero. Given that Montero had stunk out loud for a few years now and possessed a famously terrible contract, the news didn't exactly get a warm welcome from Braves Country.
However, the details of the trade do matter here and acquiring Montero is a bit easier to swallow now. Houston is covering most of Montero's remaining salary and the Braves are only responsible for a bit less than $3 million this season. At that price, Montero could be a worthy gamble even if the numbers suggest that his actual impact as a reliever is going to be minimal at best.
In the wake of the trade, there was the matter of finding space on Atlanta's roster for him. We got that corresponding roster move today as reliever Zach Thompson was optioned back to Triple-A.
The #Braves today reported RHP Rafael Montero to Atlanta and optioned RHP Zach Thompson to Triple-A Gwinnett.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) April 9, 2025
Braves option Zach Thompson back to minors to make room for Rafael Montero
This was the most logical move for the Braves to make and you are forgiven if you are not familiar with Thompson at all. Originally called up when Jesse Chavez was designated for assignment, Thompson did not make a single appearance for the Braves and hasn't appeared in a big league game since 2022 when he was with the Pirates.
Adding Montero is a bit of a gamble on the Braves part, but could pay dividends. If he can keep missing bats like he was to start the season in Houston while finding a way to stop giving up hard contact, he could be a good value depending on who the player to be named later in the trade ends up being.
Of course, there is still the problem that Montero has been objectively terrible the previous two seasons to contend with. The price may be right to take a shot on a guy who has been successful in the past, but there is no guarantee whatsoever that Montero will be what the Braves need right now.