SANTO DOMINGO.- Dominican reliever Rafael Montero formalized a contract for three years and 34.5 million dollars to continue with the Houston Astros, new champions of the World Series.
The deal could go up to $36.75 million over three seasons.
Montero, the 32-year-old right-hander, will receive $11.5 million in each of three years under the terms of the deal announced Tuesday.
He can earn $500,000 a year in performance bonuses by reaching a certain number of games. He would get $100,000 by racking up 50, 55, 60, 65, and 70 duels.
Also, the Dominican could receive a bonus of 250,000 dollars in any season in which he finishes 30 games.
He will receive $50,000 if he is selected for the All-Star Game, $100,000 if he wins the Rivera-Hoffman reliever of the year award, and $65,000 if he finishes second or third in voting for that award.
Montero had a 2.37 ERA, the best of his career. His record for him was 5-2, with 14 saves and 73 strikeouts in 68 1/3 innings in 71 games.
He was acquired from Seattle before the 2021 trade deadline expired. He is 18-23 with a 4.64 ERA and 29 saves from the New York Mets (2014-17), Texas (2019-20), Seattle (2021), and Houston.
