Earlier this week the Astros traded reliever Rafael Montero to the Atlanta Braves for cash considerations and a player to be named later.
We now know who the player is.
The Astros have acquired right-handed pitching prospect Patrick Halligan from Atlanta, the team announced Friday.
This puts an end to objectively one of the worst Astros contracts in recent memory, with Montero signed to a three-year, $34.5 million contract following the 2022 World Series season. It happened during an extended period of the Astros operating without an official general manager, before Dana Brown was hired.
The two major moves of that era, signing first baseman Jose Abreu and re-signing Montero, fell flat. Abreu was dismissed from the team last season, despite them having to pay him $30 million to go home.
Halligan, 25, was assigned to the Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks. He was picked by the Kansas City Royals in the 13th round in 2021. Most of his work has been in relief, with the occasional start.
Through 2021 and 2022, Halligan pitched 85 2/3 innings in the minors with a 5.36 ERA. He was released ahead to the 2023 season.
