The Atlanta Braves are off to a solid 8-5 start in 2025, and actually boast the best ERA in baseball with a mark just about 2.00.
However, many Braves fans understand that the pitching could be an issue down the road as the Braves start to face some tougher lineups. Especially given that the Atlanta offense looks to be one of the better groups in MLB, the Braves may want to consider adding some depth to their pitching staff via trade.
Recently, Sporting News writer Billy Heyen suggested that the Braves reach out and trade for Detroit Tigers‘ 25-year-old pitcher Keider Montero. With the Tigers off to a slow-ish start, a trade seems like a logical option.
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What Could the Braves Give Up In a Potential Keider Montero Deal?
DETROIT, MI – APRIL 5: Keider Montero #54 of the Detroit Tigers pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning at Comerica Park on April 5, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
Here is Heyen’s logic behind the suggestion:
“This is just an idea, but maybe a call to the Detroit Tigers for Keider Montero is worth considering. Montero is a 25-year old Venezuelan right-hander who is actually starting for Detroit on Friday, but he didn’t make the Opening Day rotation and is only on the fringes of their MLB roster. In his MLB career, he has a 4.56 ERA (although that was an improved 4.37 in 2025). He strikes out 7.1 batters per nine innings but has solid control, just 2.9 walks per nine innings.”
A couple of players that the Braves could consider in a trade for Montero include shortstop prospect Alex Lodise, and young infielder Nacho Alvarez Jr. Alvarez Jr. has some MLB experience with Atlanta from last season, but his path to the majors is A. blocked by other Braves infielders and B. A little blurry because of inconsistent performance.
Montero is a versatile pitcher who also has experience out of the bullpen, so when the Braves welcome the return of Spencer Strider and Spencer Schwellenbach, Montero could be a solid long reliever piece for Atlanta.
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Do the Braves Actually Need to Trade or Add Another Pitcher?
GettyATLANTA, GEORGIA – SEPTEMBER 24: Bryce Elder #55 of the Atlanta Braves pitches in the second inning against the Washington Nationals at Truist Park on September 24, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The Atlanta Braves have shocked many analysts and insiders to start the 2026 season in terms of production from some of their starters. That includes the likes of Bryce Elder, Reynaldo Lopez, and Grant Holmes.
Those three pitchers, along with a very strong bullpen, may indicate that the pitching staff is actually a strength of the team.
It’s been just 13 games, and there are (obviously) 140+ games left to be played, but with all the rumors and speculation that Atlanta is going to add another pitcher, do they actually need to? Is a completely different question.
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