Tigers Option Right-Hander Keider Montero to Triple-A Toledo

The Detroit Tigers announced on March 4 that "right‑handed pitcher Keider Montero has been optioned to Triple‑A Toledo," a roster move that came hours after Montero threw three scoreless innings for Team Venezuela in a 2-1 exhibition win over Panama. Reporting differs on his strikeout total in that outing — one account lists two strikeouts while The Athletic credits him with three — but both sources agree he allowed no runs in the three innings.

Tigers PR said the option leaves major league camp at 60 players. The Detroit Free Press framed the move as the third round of healthy spring cuts and reported the camp count as 58 players remaining, excluding two players on the 60-day injured list. Montero was the third healthy cut after right-handers Ty Madden and Dylan Smith.

Manager A.J. Hinch tied the decision to roster construction and Montero’s WBC participation. Hinch said, "We've got to protect our rotation." Hinch added that the club "determined that he wasn't going to initially make our team out of the bullpen, and given that our rotation has been set since Day 1, we decided to option him, given that we're not going to see him in person for what could be a few weeks." Hinch also laid out how the club views Montero long term: "For him, defining the role where we felt like he can help us the most was going to be, at some point, in our rotation. Whether that's getting called up as a sixth starter, or god forbid anything happens, he's equipped to handle that, and the only way to do that is get him going and building him as a starter."

Montero was activated to Venezuela's WBC roster on February 5 and is scheduled to pitch at least once in Pool D play, with the possibility of a second appearance if Venezuela advances. Hinch described those outings as "going to be in bulk roles," adding "but most likely in the 50-60 pitch count." The WBC tournament runs through March 17, leaving a window for Montero's participation before he resumes work in Toledo.

Spring training performance factored into the move. The Athletic reported Montero "struggled in his two appearances before Wednesday," allowing five runs on eight hits across five innings. Freep noted he has shown increased fastball velocity this spring but has struggled with command. In 2025 Montero made 20 major league appearances, including 12 starts, posting a 4.37 ERA with 72 strikeouts and 31 walks across 90 2/3 innings; he also added 5 1/3 scoreless innings over three playoff appearances. At Triple‑A Toledo in 2025 he logged a 5.91 ERA in 42 2/3 innings across 10 games, eight of them starts.

The option preserves starter depth behind the Tigers’ projected front five of Tarik Skubal, Framber Valdez, Justin Verlander, Jack Flaherty, and Casey Mize. MLB Trade Rumors lists Montero seventh on the rotation depth chart, with Troy Melton likely to start the season on the injured list and Reese Olson out for the year. The Athletic and MLBTR also note the move creates room for Drew Anderson to begin the year in long relief and take spot starts or a hybrid role; Anderson is out of options and must be kept on the MLB roster unless his status changes.

Montero carries one minor league option year remaining; if he spends at least 20 days in the minors during the regular season he would be out of options entering 2027. The timeline now is clear: bulk WBC outings in the 50-60 pitch range, then a controlled build in Toledo aimed at returning him to Detroit as a stretched out starter or midseason rotation answer.