TigersPublished: Feb. 13, 2026, 7:23 p.m.
Rafael Montero pitched in 20 games for the Tigers last year. AP
LAKELAND, Fla. — Former Detroit Tigers right-handed reliever Rafael Montero has agreed to a minor-league contract with the New York Yankees.
A native of the Dominican Republic, Montero has pitched in 380 games over parts of 11 major league seasons for six teams.
The Tigers were the last of three teams Montero pitched for in 2025 after acquiring him at the deadline from the Atlanta Braves.
Montero pitched in 20 games for the Tigers, posting a 2.20 ERA but a 4.50 FIP. He struck out 19 and walked 14. Montero pitched in only one postseason game.
Montero, 35, was a high-leverage reliever and occasional closer for the World Series champion Houston Astros in 2022 but has largely struggled since then.
Evan Woodbery has covered the Detroit Tigers and Major League Baseball for MLive.com since 2016. He has previously covered the Saints/NFL for The Times-Picayune/NOLA.com; University of Tennessee athletics for… more