Rafael Montero

Houston Astros, Relief Pitcher
Age: 34y-2m-5d (Oct 17, 1990)
Exp: 7.138 Years
Country: DO
Agent(s): GSE Worldwide

2023-2025 free-agent-xxb (CURRENT)

Rafael Montero signed a 3 year , $34,500,000 contract with the Houston Astros, including $34,500,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $11,500,000.
Contract Terms:
3 yr(s) / $34,500,000
Average Salary:
$11,500,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
Free Agent:
2026 / UFA
Year Age Status PayrollAnnual Luxury Tax Tax % League Tax Cash Annual Cash Cumulative
2023 32 $11,900,000 $11,500,000 4.94% $11,900,000 $11,900,000
2024 33
Buried
$11,500,000 $11,500,000 - $11,500,000 $23,400,000
2025 34
Buried
$11,500,000 $11,500,000 - $11,500,000 $34,900,000
2026 35
UFA
Year Age Service Status Base Salary Incentives Likely Incentives Unlikely Payroll Salary Luxury Tax
2023 32 6.138 $11,500,000 $400,000 - $11,900,000 $11,500,000
2024 33 7.138
Buried
$11,500,000 - - $11,500,000 $11,500,000
2025 34 -
Buried
$11,500,000 - - $11,500,000 $11,500,000
2026 35 --
UFA
Year Age Status Base Salary Cash Total Cash Cumulative Cash Remaining AYC Cumulative AYC Remaining
2023 32 $11,500,000 $11,900,000 $11,900,000 $23,000,000 $11,900,000 $11,633,333
2024 33
Buried
$11,500,000 $11,500,000 $23,400,000 $11,500,000 $11,700,000 $11,500,000
2025 34
Buried
$11,500,000 $11,500,000 $34,900,000 - $11,633,333 $11,500,000
Contract Notes
  • Games Finished
    $250,000 for 30
  • Appearances ($400,000 earned in 2023)
    $100,000 each for 50, 55, 60, 65, 70
  • Reliever of the Year: $100,000 ($65,000 for 2nd/3rd)
  • All Star: $50,000
Source: MLB contract specifics generally collected from verified reports.

2022-2022 Arbitration

Rafael Montero signed a 1 year , $2,725,000 contract with the Houston Astros, including $2,725,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $2,725,000.
Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $2,725,000
Average Salary:
$2,725,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
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2021-2021 Arbitration

Rafael Montero signed a 1 year , $2,250,000 contract with the Seattle Mariners, including $2,250,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $2,250,000.
Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $2,250,000
Average Salary:
$2,250,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
Spotrac Premium Tools
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2020-2020 Arbitration

Rafael Montero signed a 1 year , $785,000 contract with the Texas Rangers, including $785,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $785,000.
Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $785,000
Average Salary:
$785,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
Spotrac Premium Tools
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2019-2019

Rafael Montero signed a 1 year , $555,000 contract with the Texas Rangers, including $555,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $555,000.
Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $555,000
Average Salary:
$555,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
Spotrac Premium Tools
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2018-2018
Pre-Arbitration

Rafael Montero signed a 1 year , $558,025 contract with the New York Mets, including $558,025 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $558,025.
Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $558,025
Average Salary:
$558,025
Signing Bonus:
N/A
Spotrac Premium Tools
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2017-2017
Pre-Arbitration

Rafael Montero signed a 1 year , $541,400 contract with the New York Mets, including $541,400 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $541,400.
Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $541,400
Average Salary:
$541,400
Signing Bonus:
N/A
Spotrac Premium Tools
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2016-2016
Pre-Arbitration

Rafael Montero signed a 1 year , $507,500 contract with the New York Mets, including $507,500 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $507,500.
Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $507,500
Average Salary:
$507,500
Signing Bonus:
N/A
Spotrac Premium Tools
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2015-2015
Pre-Arbitration

Rafael Montero signed a 1 year , $511,000 contract with the New York Mets, including $511,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $511,000.
Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $511,000
Average Salary:
$511,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
Spotrac Premium Tools
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2014-2014
Pre-Arbitration

Rafael Montero signed a 1 year , $500,000 contract with the New York Mets, including $500,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $500,000.
Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $500,000
Average Salary:
$500,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
Spotrac Premium Tools
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2010-2010 Signing Bonus

Rafael Montero signed a 1 year , $80,000 contract with the New York Mets, including $80,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $80,000.
Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $80,000
Average Salary:
$80,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
Spotrac Premium Tools
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Seasons

7.138 Years

Career Earnings thru 2025

$30,675,638

Earnings w/ Different Teams

4 teams

Earnings Per Year

Year Age Team(s) Status Cash Total Cash Cumulative Awards
2010 19
Signing Bonus
$80,000
$80,000
2014 23
Active
$136,612
$216,612
2015 24
Injured
$477,491
$694,103
2016 25
Active
$108,147
$802,250
2017 26
Active
$440,742
$1,242,992
2018 27
Injured
$558,025
$1,801,017
2019 28
Active
$208,880
$2,009,897
2020 29
Active / Arb Avoided
$290,741
$2,300,638
2021 30
Injured / Arb Avoided
Retained
$1,427,404
$822,596
$3,728,042
$4,550,638
2022 31
Active / Arb Avoided
$2,725,000
$7,275,638
 Champion
2023 32
Active
$11,900,000
$19,175,638
2024 33
Reserve / minor-buried
$11,500,000
$30,675,638
Total      
$30,675,638
$30,675,638
2025 34
Reserve / minor-buried
$11,500,000
Total
$42,175,638

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Incentives Cash Cumulative
6 $1,721,017 $80,000 - $1,801,017
2 $499,621 - - $499,621
4 $27,152,404 - $400,000 $27,552,404
1 $822,596 - - $822,596
Year Team(s) Age Base Signing Incentives Cash Total Cash Cumulative
2010
19
$80,000
$80,000
$80,000
2014
23
$136,612
$136,612
$216,612
2015
24
$477,491
$477,491
$694,103
2016
25
$108,147
$108,147
$802,250
2017
26
$440,742
$440,742
$1,242,992
2018
27
$558,025
$558,025
$1,801,017
2019
28
$208,880
$208,880
$2,009,897
2020
29
$290,741
$290,741
$2,300,638
2021
30
$1,427,404
$822,596
$1,427,404
$822,596
$3,728,042
$4,550,638
2022
31
$2,725,000
$2,725,000
$7,275,638
2023
32
$11,500,000
$400,000
$11,900,000
$19,175,638
2024
33
$11,500,000
$11,500,000
$30,675,638
Total
$30,195,638
$80,000
$400,000
$30,675,638
$30,675,638
2025
34
$11,500,000
$11,500,000
Total
$41,695,638
$80,000
$400,000
$42,175,638

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Incentives Cash Cumulative
6 $1,721,017 $80,000 - $1,801,017
2 $499,621 - - $499,621
4 $27,152,404 - $400,000 $27,552,404
1 $822,596 - - $822,596

Injuries

Year Dates Reason
2021 HOU Aug 10, 2021 - Oct 03, 2021 Shoulder
2020 TEX Jul 23, 2020 - Aug 07, 2020 Arm
2018 NYM Mar 29, 2018 - Oct 01, 2018 Elbow
2015 NYM Jul 24, 2015 - Oct 05, 2015 Shoulder
2015 NYM Apr 30, 2015 - Jul 24, 2015 Shoulder
  • Jul 31, 2024 Designated for Assignment by Houston (HOU)
  • Nov 12, 2022 Signed a 3 year $34.5 million contract with Houston (HOU)
  • Mar 22, 2022 Signed a 1 year $2.725 million contract with Houston (HOU), avoiding arbitration
  • Jul 27, 2021 Traded to Houston (HOU) from Seattle (SEA) with Kendall Graveman for Abraham Toro-Hernandez and Joe Smith
  • Jan 15, 2021 Signed a 1 year $2.25 million contract with Seattle (SEA), avoiding arbitration
  • Dec 15, 2020 Traded to Seattle (SEA) from Texas (TEX) for Jose Corniell and Andres Mesa
  • Jan 10, 2020 Signed a 1 year $785,000 contract with Texas (TEX), avoiding arbitration
  • Dec 05, 2018 Signed a minor league contract with Texas (TEX)
  • Mar 24, 2018 Signed a 1 year $558,025 contract with New York (NYM)
  • Feb 24, 2017 Signed a 1 year $541,400 contract with New York (NYM)
  • Mar 05, 2015 Signed a 1 year $511,000 contract with New York (NYM)
  • Jan 20, 2011 Signed a contract with New York (NYM)
Year Team GP GS H R ER BB K HR W L SV IP ERA WHIP WAR
2024 HOU 41 0 35 21 20 19 23 8 1 2 0 38.3 4.70 1.41 -0.10
2023 HOU 67 0 74 40 38 29 79 11 3 3 1 67.3 5.08 1.53 -0.35
2022 HOU 71 0 47 22 18 23 73 3 5 2 14 68.3 2.37 1.02 1.21
2021 HOU 44 0 59 40 35 17 42 4 5 4 7 49.3 6.39 1.54 -1.79
2020 TEX 17 0 12 11 8 6 19 2 0 1 8 17.7 4.08 1.02 0.01
2019 TEX 22 0 23 8 8 5 34 5 2 0 0 29.0 2.48 0.97 1.21
2017 NYM 34 18 140 75 72 67 114 12 5 11 0 119.0 5.45 1.74 -0.01
2016 NYM 9 3 23 17 17 16 20 4 0 1 0 19.0 8.05 2.05 -0.51
2015 NYM 5 1 9 6 5 5 13 0 0 1 0 10.0 4.50 1.40 -0.12
2014 NYM 10 8 44 21 20 23 42 8 1 3 0 44.3 4.06 1.51 0.01

FEATURED PLAYER NEWS

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2025 MLB Offseason Contract Breakdowns

Spotrac details the largest free agent signings and contract extensions across MLB throughout the 2025 offseason. READ MORE

TRANSACTIONS

Jul 31, 2024
Designated for Assignment by Houston (HOU)
Nov 12, 2022
Signed a 3 year $34.5 million contract with Houston (HOU)
Mar 22, 2022
Signed a 1 year $2.725 million contract with Houston (HOU), avoiding arbitration
Jul 27, 2021
Traded to Houston (HOU) from Seattle (SEA) with Kendall Graveman for Abraham Toro-Hernandez and Joe Smith
Jan 15, 2021
Signed a 1 year $2.25 million contract with Seattle (SEA), avoiding arbitration
Dec 15, 2020
Traded to Seattle (SEA) from Texas (TEX) for Jose Corniell and Andres Mesa
Jan 10, 2020
Signed a 1 year $785,000 contract with Texas (TEX), avoiding arbitration
Dec 05, 2018
Signed a minor league contract with Texas (TEX)
Mar 24, 2018
Signed a 1 year $558,025 contract with New York (NYM)
Feb 24, 2017
Signed a 1 year $541,400 contract with New York (NYM)
Mar 05, 2015
Signed a 1 year $511,000 contract with New York (NYM)
Jan 20, 2011
Signed a contract with New York (NYM)

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