For former MLB players that managed to resurrect their careers overseas, many of them often returned to North America for a second go-around on a newfound major league deal as a result of their success. For instance, Cody Ponce, who was the 2025 KBO MVP in Korea, signed a three-year, $30 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays this offseason in his official return to MLB.
However, a strong performance doesn’t always guarantee a solid MLB contract as former Philadelphia Phillies reliever Yunior Marte recently found out. Marte, who will turn 31 before Opening Day, was only able to secure a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds in his return to North America, as per Francys Romero. The deal includes an invitation to spring training and would total just $1.05 million if he manages to make the Reds’ Opening Day roster.
Former Phillies reliever Yunior Marte gets minor league deal with Reds despite impressive numbers in Japan
It was actually quite surprising that was all Marte was able to get, considering the former Phillie is coming off a stunning 2025 year in Japan with the Chunichi Dragons. With the Dragons, Marte posted a stellar 2.11 ERA and 1.00 WHIP, giving up just 11 earned runs and two home runs all year, along with 48 strikeouts in 47 innings over 50 appearances.
Those numbers were considerably better than what he managed to put up during his two seasons with the Phillies. In total, Marte compiled a dismal 5.79 ERA and 1.73 WHIP, giving up a whopping 42 earned runs on 81 hits, with 32 walks and 61 strikeouts in 65 1/3 innings in 63 games with Philadelphia.
More notably, Phillies fans will always remember his disastrous outing back on Aug. 10, 2024, against the Arizona Diamondbacks in which he gave up seven runs in just 2/3 of an inning. That dreadful performance was likely what spelled the end of his tenure with the organization following the 2024 season.
Nevertheless, it's great to learn that Marte rediscovered his game during his time in Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. In doing so, he has all of a sudden given himself another chance to make a statement in MLB to potentially carve out a more stable path this time around.
It just so happens that Marte will be back in the National League after joining the Reds’ organization, meaning that the Phillies could eventually face their former teammate. With Philadelphia passing up on the opportunity to reunite with the 30-year-old reliever, hopefully that decision won’t come back to haunt them down the road.