The Rockies announced that first baseman Elehuris Montero has been designated for assignment. The move opens space for the return of catcher Elias Diaz, who has been activated from the 10-day injured list after missing just short of three weeks due to a strained left calf.
Montero was one of five players Colorado obtained from the Cardinals in the Nolan Arenado trade in February 2021, and was arguably the highest-profile name of the group, considering how Montero drew some top-100 prospect buzz from Baseball America prior to the 2019 season. His star has already started to dim after a lackluster showing at Double-A ball in 2019, and he missed a year of development when the pandemic shut down the 2020 minor league season, yet Montero emerged from that hiatus with a big performance at Triple-A Albuquerque in 2021.
More minor league success in 2022 paved the way for Montero’s MLB debut that season, but the production simply hasn’t come over Montero’s three seasons in Colorado. After hitting .239/.283/.428 over 492 plate appearances in 2022-23, Montero’s numbers have cratered even further this year, as he has only a .206/.268/.305 slash line in 246 PA. Among all players with at least 240 plate appearances in 2024, Montero ranks last in all of baseball in both wRC+ (48) and fWAR (-1.8).
Even though the Montero has improved his walk rate and drastically cut back on the strikeouts that plagued him over his first two big league seasons, he is still making contact at a below-average rate. Montero also doesn’t provide much value on the basepaths or in the field, as his glovework has been subpar as both a third baseman and first baseman.
Kris Bryant’s injuries opened the door for Montero to receive pretty regular playing time at first base this season, but this might have essentially served as his last chance to prove himself as a part of the Rockies’ future. Michael Toglia has already seemingly moved into the starting first base job, and with Charlie Blackmon and now Diaz both back from the IL, the roster was getting too crowded for the Rox to keep giving at-bats to a player going through such extreme struggles as Montero.
Since Montero is out of minor league options, however, a new team would have to either give Montero playing time at the big league level, or else DFA him again in order to potentially send him to Triple-A. If Montero clears waivers, the Rockies might part ways entirely with a release, or option him to Triple-A after outrighting him off the 40-man roster.
Diaz was hitting .303/.352/.439 with five home runs in 216 PA at the time of his injury, and it is good news that the catcher is able to return in relatively short order. Since Diaz is a free agent after the season, he stands out as a logical candidate to be moved at the trade deadline, though the Rox could have designs on trying to sign the catcher to another extension.
Montero has always had potential. As a Cardinal fan, I held my breath when he was included in the Arenado trade – his stats in the lower minors were “Pujols-esque.” It looks like he hasn’t been able to adjust to MLB pitching. I don’t know if someone can help him turn the corner and realize his potential.
He seemed overmatched most of the time and looked below average or worse at everything.
Montero has some great bat speed and decent exit velocity numbers. That’s…about it.
Plus, even though he cut back on the strikeouts and is walking more, his rates there and in related stats are still subpar.
Another case of a poor approach at the plate preventing a player from utilizing their talent properly.
Next stop KBO. The guy just can’t hit major league breaking balls. He did improve a lot more than the numbers show this year though, so maybe a couple of years in Korea can help him turn the corner. His defense at first is a LOT better than his defense at third and he hit the ball hard quite a bit, just usually right at people. Could be a case of just being unlucky. Could be a case of him being a AAAA player. Only time will tell.
The Rockies could have gotten so much more in the Nolan Arenado trade. Four of the prospects (Elehuris Montero, Jake Somners, Tony Locey, and Mateo Gil) never amounted to anything. Austin Gomber has only been an average pitcher for the Rockies.
Gomber has accumulated 3.2 WAR for his entire Rockies tenture, Montero had -1.3 WAR with the Rockies. Now compare both of these WAR numbers to Nolan Arenado’s 14.6 WAR with the Cardinals.
Definitely one of the worst trades in Rockies history.
Exile
I agree with what you said, but you leave out the worst part:
“The salary savings from only paying part of Arenado’s salary with the dirty birds was spent on free agent Kris Bryant.”
But you also have to factor in third base being opened up for Ryan McMahon with Arenado’s exit. That at least cancels out your Bryant point.
Not a great trade, but not as bad as people seem to think.
McMahon was playing all-star 2nd base before the trade.
Yeah. And now they have him playing actual All Star third base and a place for Brendan Rodgers who was the #1 prospect at the time.
Nothing was saved. Bridich sent $50 million to St. Louis with Arenado
Colorado Springs
“Nothing was saved. Bridich sent $50 million to St. Louis with Arenado”
That’s absurd to say
The team saved $149 million (I think) by trading Arrenado.
That they then spent it (on Bryant or whatever) doesn’t meant that they didn’t save it.
I get your point.
But Rockies could have called Arenado’s bluff and said either show up and play or be unpaid. Either outcome was better than deal with dirty birds. Gomber and Montero are not worth the money Rockies paid down, would have been better to get zero players back and have assuming team pay full salary.
There’s a reason the former GM is no longer in baseball..Montero may have had the worst luck in baseball – crushing balls right at infielders.
Tidy piece of business here
That slash line for Toglia is uglier than Montero’s, i guess they must like Toglia’s power potential more
Toglia had an AWFUL April. So bad that he got sent down. But he has hit much better since he was recalled. Toglia having options also played a part. The Rockies needed the 40 man spot to get Marquez back on the roster and someone would have had to go then. Kill two birds with one stone here.
I feel bad for this franchise. No one has come up with the solution to the thin air problem, and to make matters worse, the front office seems….how can I put this to be nice….behind the times.
The smartest people in baseball might not be able to put a consistent winner in Colorado, and the current brain trust don’t qualify.
Good to see Diaz back. Just in time to play my Brewers! Good luck in the upcoming series. I expect to take 2 to three games against you guys. You have a good Chance against Dallas Keuchel on Tuesday!
Would love to see him back in Albuquerque, as this is the bleakest worst minor league team I’ve ever seen