Houston Astros fans may have had a bit of a shock when reliever Rafael Montero signed a three-year, $34.5 million contract. While his performance in the regular season was positive, Montero has never had consecutive sub-4.00 ERA seasons, making the contract a risky arrangement. Montero’s recent performance has not helped matters, as he has given up nine earned runs in his most recent four appearances, leading to concerns about his contract being justified. However, there is more to consider than just ERA and losses. Montero’s BABIP shows that he hasn’t been lucky, and his current .444 mark is unsustainable. His strikeout and walk rates are roughly on par with last season’s, and his 3.55 FIP indicates that he hasn’t been as terrible as his ERA may show. While there are concerns about Montero’s contract, this latest blip isn’t one of them.
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