The Atlanta Braves just wrapped up a deal that might sneakily shift the balance of their bullpen, and it’s got all the trimmings: a gritty prospect, a high-leverage vet, and a little sprinkle of that classic “salary dump” magic. Let’s dive in.
Halligan’s Road to Relevance
So here’s what went down: Patrick Halligan, a right-handed pitcher who’s been riding the minor league circuit with a bit of a comeback story, is now officially headed to Houston.
He’s the “Player to be Named Later” that closes the door on the earlier trade that brought Rafael Montero to Atlanta. And while Halligan might not be a household name, the dude’s got some spice.
Originally drafted by the Royals in the 13th round back in 2021, he hit a rough patch in High-A, got released, and then the Braves took a flyer on him.
Now here’s where it gets good—once Atlanta transitioned him to the bullpen full-time, boom, something clicked. With Double-A Mississippi last season, he tossed up a 2.58 ERA across 37 appearances. That’s no joke.
He even made a debut with the new Double-A Columbus, and sure, he gave up a couple of runs in a single inning, but let’s not get cute with the sample size.
For Houston, this is a classic low-risk, high-upside return. And in a system that’s suddenly more open to developing arms again, Halligan could thrive.
Montero’s Atlanta Braves Arrival
Meanwhile, what did the Braves get? Just a guy named Rafael Montero, who has a little postseason pedigree—you might’ve heard of it. In the Astros’ 2022 World Series run, he was untouchable with a 1.93 ERA in the postseason. That’s the kind of experience you don’t just stumble into on a Tuesday.
And now, fresh off a rain-soaked debut in Philly, he’s already looking like he’s found the old groove. Came in during the 10th, in a high-wire, late-night, post-delay situation and handled it like a seasoned closer—no runs, one walk, two K’s. Welcome to the show.
That night, the Braves bullpen was electric—holding the Phillies to just an unearned run (thanks to the automatic runner rule) over five gritty innings. And Montero? Looked right at home. The fastball had a bite. The command was sharp. The mound presence? Vintage.
A Win-Win Deal with Different Agendas
So let’s call it what it is: the Astros get a promising arm they can mold, and the Braves land an experienced, battle-tested reliever to shore up their bullpen right when the season starts to stretch out. They even sent one of their offseason acquisitions down to Triple-A for this guy.
For Atlanta, this move is planned for October. For Houston, it’s the business side of the game—making space, shedding salary, and maybe catching lightning in a bottle.
The bottom line is this isn’t blockbuster stuff, but it’s the kind of transaction that can quietly pay dividends. And if Montero keeps pitching like he did in Philly? The Braves just might have struck gold.
