TAMPA — Yankees Update on Bullpen Additions

The Yankees are making a noteworthy addition to their spring training bullpen competition.

They have finalized a minor league contract with Rafael Montero, as confirmed by Jon Heyman. Montero will participate in major league spring training to see if he can secure a spot.

According to Joel Sherman, if Montero makes the team, he is set to earn $1.85 million.

At 35, Montero, once a promising prospect with the Mets, played in 59 games for the Astros, Braves, and Tigers last season. He finished with a 4.48 ERA, tallying 58 strikeouts and 37 walks over 60 1/3 innings.

Interestingly, he’s just four years removed from what was arguably his finest season, where he registered a 2.37 ERA while helping the Astros win the World Series in 2022.

Montero will be competing for one of the final roster spots in the Yankees’ bullpen, especially after the team lost Devin Williams and Luke Weaver in the offseason without acquiring established replacements.

Key players in the bullpen will include David Bednar, Fernando Cruz, and Tim Hill, while Ryan Yarbrough and Paul Blackburn are likely to join them if the starting rotation stays healthy.

The team is also optimistic about a rebound from Jake Bird, hoping to see several strong candidates arise from a group that now includes Montero, along with Brent Headrick, Cade Winquest, Yerry de los Santos, Angel Chivili, and Kervin Castro.

“I think there’s potential for us to find strengths,” said manager Aaron Boone on Wednesday. “It might require someone unexpected stepping up or, you know, maybe even a starter going down. The bullpen has historically been one of those unpredictable areas.”

“Big salaries were out there this winter, so I had to adapt to the changes in our relief lineup. We’re working to allocate resources wisely,” he added.