Former big leaguer Franmil Reyes has signed a multi-year contract with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball, according to reports out of Japan (hat tip to Yakyu Cosmopolitan). Reyes has spent the last two seasons with the Fighters, both on one-year contracts. The club initially offered him a multi-year deal last winter before Reyes instead opted for a one-year guarantee, but it looks like the 30-year-old slugger will now get a bit more security.
It is easy to see why the Fighters wanted to lock Reyes up, as he has provided some big pop over his two NPB seasons. Reyes has hit .282/.347/.535 with 57 home runs over 899 plate appearances with the Kitahiroshima-based club, helping carry the Fighters to second-place finishes in the Pacific League in each of the last two seasons. The Fighters’ 240 home runs over the last two seasons is the most of any NPB team, with Reyes’ power bat leading the way.
This slugging ability was evident over most of Reyes’ six Major League seasons, as he posted 108 big flies and a .264/.310/.464 slash line over 2078 PA with the Padres, Guardians, Cubs, and Royals from 2018-23. Unfortunately for Reyes, his production suddenly cratered in 2022, leading Cleveland to option him to Triple-A and then designate him for assignment that summer. Subsequent stints with the Cubs, Royals, and (on a minor league contract) Nationals didn’t see Reyes regain his stroke, so he opted to head overseas following the 2023 season.
The move to Japan has gotten Reyes back on track, and his multi-year commitment with the Fighters could be viewed a few different ways. It could be that MLB scouts and front offices weren’t convinced enough by Reyes’ NPB numbers to explore bringing him back to North America on any kind of guaranteed deal, so he might have preferred to stay with the Fighters for more guaranteed money. Or, Reyes might simply be happy where he is, and is looking forward to continuing what has clearly been a welcoming environment in terms of both his own production and the Fighters’ team success.
Joining the fight with the ham!
The Franimal is losing the battle!
🤪🍻
Franimal is fist-fighting hams in Japan!
Double fisted! 🤪
I was really hoping to see him come back to the MLB. He really produced over there and I think he could have been a very solid bat again like he was at the beginning of his career.
Glad to see the big guy is doing so well over there.
Realistically speaking, if judge or shwarber or peak ohtani signed there how many homers in 162 whould these dudes hit in the NBP. What would an era of a skubal or snell look like?
Good for Reyes. Why turn down guaranteed money and a roster spot in Japan and have to fight for a spot here
@Rsox not to mention the food, better quality of life, and no crime….
Just curious as to how much he will be paid.
Good for him! He seemed like a genuinely nice guy when he played for Cleveland.
I know Nippon Ham is the team sponsor, but the image of Samurai’s bludgeoning each other with large rounds of pork is so compelling it should be considered by their promotional team.
Money talks in almost every situation.Certainty over uncertainty.