Earlier on Wednesday, the Atlanta Braves made a deal with the Rockies to bring Tyler Kinley to Atlanta’s bullpen. It was pretty clear that while Atlanta’s trying to move a bunch of relievers, they’re also trying to make sure that they have some guys left in that bullpen once they’re done wheeling-and-dealing. One reliever that’s now on the move is Rafael Montero. Just a few months after the Braves brought him into the fold from Houston, Montero is now headed to Detroit to join the Tigers bullpen.
The #Braves tonight acquired minor league INF Jim Jarvis from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for RHP Rafael Montero.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 31, 2025
Montero finishes his stint with the Braves with a 5.50 ERA, a 4.08 FIP over 36 appearances and 34.1 inings pitched, giving him a grand total of 0.0 fWAR during his time in Atlanta. For reference’s sake, Montero produced 0.1 fWAR in just four innings and three appearances with the Astros earlier this season, so that oughta tell you how this season has gone for Montero so far. Still, the Tigers figure that he’ll be able to help them in their push to the Postseason and here’s hoping that he’s productive for them.
As far as Jim Jarvis goes, Detroit’s 2023 11th-round pick from the University of Alabama has been slowly working his way through the ranks since getting drafted. He’s currently in Double-A, which means it’s likely that he’ll be heading to Columbus to hang with the Clingstones for a bit. Here’s what the folks over at Tigers Minor League Report had to say about Jarvis and his potential:
Jarvis is a defensively gifted infielder with versatility across multiple positions. His offensive game is currently contact-oriented, with limited power. Continued development of his hitting approach and strength could help as he advances through the higher levels. Given his defensive prowess and base-running skills, Jarvis projects as a valuable utility infielder with the potential to contribute at the major league level.
So there you have it: The Braves provide a tiny bit of a boost to their organizational depth by bringing Jarvis into the fold and now Montero gets to pitch for a contender. The Braves haven’t quite made the huge moves that people are anticipating but they’ve certainly been busy with the MLB Trade Deadline less than 24 hours away.
