Reds Sign Yunior Marte to Minor League Deal for 2026

The Cincinnati Reds are still searching for some stability in their bullpen. Their latest move brings a familiar, intriguing arm back into the MLB mix.

They’ve agreed to a minor league deal with right-hander Yunior Marte, who also gets an invite to Spring Training. It’s a low-risk move, but there’s at least a shot he helps shape the 2026 relief corps.

Reds Add Yunior Marte on Minor League Deal

Cincinnati brought Yunior Marte in on a minor league contract with an invite to big league camp. If he makes the Opening Day roster, Marte would earn a base salary of $1.05 million—so the Reds clearly see some potential here, not just organizational filler.

After playing overseas in Japan in 2025, Marte returns to affiliated baseball. The Reds are banking on that experience, plus his raw arm strength, to maybe turn him into a reliable middle-inning option.

A Productive Season in Japan

With the Chunichi Dragons in Nippon Professional Baseball, Marte split his season between the top club and its minor league squad. He put up a shiny 1.95 ERA over 32 1/3 innings.

He chipped in during high-leverage spots, picking up:

Sure, the ERA looks great, but the underlying numbers tell a more complicated story. Opponents hit just .213 on balls in play, and Marte only struck out 19.1% of batters—a bit low for a power reliever.

Evaluating Marte’s MLB Track Record

Marte is 30 now, turning 31 in February, so he’s no rookie. He broke into the majors with the San Francisco Giants in 2022, then spent two seasons with the Phillies, mostly as a swing middle reliever.

Over 102 big league appearances, Marte hasn’t really missed bats at an elite level. His MLB strikeout rate is 20.1%, and his career ERA sits at 5.64 across 113 1/3 innings. That’s probably why he has to fight for a spot instead of getting one handed to him.

Power Sinker, Mixed Results

Marte’s main weapon is a heavy, high-velocity sinker, usually clocking in at 96–98 mph. On paper, the stuff is there for a modern bullpen arm.

But he just hasn’t turned that velocity into consistent strikeouts, which keeps his ceiling lower than you’d hope.

If he sharpens his command or gets hitters to chase his secondary pitches, maybe Cincinnati finds more value than his past MLB numbers show. It’s not impossible.

Where Marte Fits in the Reds Bullpen Picture

The Reds head into Spring Training with a bullpen led by re-signed closer Emilio Pagán. They’ve got some established arms behind him: Tony Santillan, Graham Ashcraft, Connor Phillips, and Caleb Ferguson.

The middle innings? Still a bit of a question mark. Cincinnati doesn’t have much proven minor league depth, so non-roster invitees actually have a shot to make an impact.

Competition and Opportunity in Spring Training

Marte is one of the handful of non-roster pitchers in camp with recent MLB experience. Tejay Antone is the only other invitee in that category, and the Reds might try to reclaim Keegan Thompson off waivers after his recent DFA.

So there’s a real chance here for Marte. If he puts together a strong spring, he could snag a middle-inning relief role—especially if injuries or inconsistency pop up among the regulars.

Low Risk, Potential Reward for Cincinnati

From a roster-building standpoint, this signing makes sense. The Reds are betting on Marte’s experience and velocity to help a bullpen that still has questions.

They’re also hoping his recent success in Japan can translate here. There’s not much downside, honestly.

If Marte finds some consistency, the payoff could be meaningful. As Spring Training unfolds, Yunior Marte looks like the kind of under-the-radar arm that might become important over the grind of a long season.

 
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