Yankees Sign Veteran Reliever to Minor League Deal

The New York Yankees are bringing in a veteran bullpen arm with plenty of major league experience.

Aug 9, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Tigers pitcher Rafael Montero (99) throws a pitch against the Los Angeles Angels in the fifth inning at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images | Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images

With spring training underway, the New York Yankees have brought in a veteran pitcher who could eventually emerge as a bullpen option for the club.

As reported by MLB insider Héctor Gómez, the Yankees have signed right-hander Rafael Montero to a minor league contract that includes an invite to big-league camp.

Gómez added that Montero will earn $1.8 million if he cracks the major league roster while also netting a $500,000 signing bonus.

Oct 4, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Detroit Tigers pitcher Rafael Montero (99) delivers a pitch in the sixth inning against the Seattle Mariners during game one of the ALDS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images | Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

Montero's Background

A top prospect with the New York Mets after signing with the organization as an international free agent in January 2011, Montero went on to make his major league debut for the team in 2014.

After logging a 5.38 ERA over 58 appearances (30 starts) through the 2017 season for the Mets and undergoing Tommy John surgery, which wiped out his entire 2018 campaign, Montero signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers before the 2019 season.

He's remained a fixture in bullpens across the big leagues ever since, and was a major part of the Houston Astros' run to a World Series title in 2022, posting a 2.37 ERA over 68 1/3 regular season innings before putting up a 1.93 ERA across 9 1/3 playoff frames.

Montero spent time with the Astros, Atlanta Braves and Detroit Tigers during the 2025 campaign, finishing with a 4.48 ERA in 60 1/3 innings.

Yankees Bullpen Outlook

As the Yankees get set to run back nearly the same squad they had last year, the bullpen always stood out as the weakest link throughout the offseason.

With Devin Williams and Luke Weaver profiling as the only two notable departures from the club's 2025 roster, New York opted not to make any splash-type moves for a reliever or two before the team reconvened for spring training in Tampa, Fla.

David Bednar will enter the year as the closer after coming off in a deadline trade from the Pittsburgh Pirates last August, and a fellow deadline addition in Camilo Doval is set to serve as one of his primary set-up men alongside Fernando Cruz.

Tim Hill returns for his third season in the Bronx as well, but the front end of the Yankees' bullpen is rather thin beyond that foursome.

The likes of Paul Blackburn, Rule 5 pick Cade Winquest and Jake Bird all have good shots of making the Opening Day roster depending on how Grapefruit League play transpires, and Ryan Yarbrough also fits in with that group.

Montero, alongside a handful of other non-roster invitees, could crash the party and earn a bullpen spot over the next month-and-a-half or so too, but it's too early to tell whether or not that'll be enough for the group to be up to par.

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