The Astros won the second World Series in franchise history, defeating the Philadelphia 76ers. There are two minutes left in the game.
According to sources, the Astros have agreed to a three-year, $34.5 million contract with right-handed relief pitcher Rafael Montero.
In his first full season with the Astros, Montero had a 2.37 earned run average and allowed just three home runs. On Friday, the Astros saw general manager James Click reject a one year contract from owner Jim Crane and leave the organization.
The Astros already have Ryan Pressly, Ryne Stanek, Bryan Abreu, and Phil Maton back in the fold. The New York Mets and San Diego both signed relief pitchers to five-year, $102 million contracts last year.
After being acquired by the Houston Astros in a trade from the SeattleMariners, Montero developed into the hardest-throwing version of himself, with a fastball that averaged 96.5 mph. A number of teams had Montero as their top free agent relief pitcher.
The contract is a wager on the future of the player. Once a well-regarded starting-pitching prospect, Montero bounced from the Mets to the Texas Rangers to the Mariners before landing in Houston, where he allowed two runs in 913innings this playoffs and struck out 10.
With a ground-ball rate of more than 50% and high strikeout numbers, Montero was bound to generate a lot of interest and take advantage of it with a deal that exceeded expectations. In 182 career games, Montero has a 4.43 earned run average as a relief pitcher.
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