The Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles announced Thursday they’ve signed Roansy Contreras to play in Nippon Professional Baseball. The Colorado Rockies had released the right-hander earlier that same day.
It’s a fresh start for the 26-year-old reliever, who’s spent portions of five seasons bouncing between the Pirates, Angels, Orioles and Rockies. That’s a lot of movement for someone who once looked like a cornerstone piece.
Contreras was a promising prospect in the Yankees system before getting traded for Jameson Taillon. Those early returns looked solid – he posted a 3.67 ERA across his first 22 big league appearances, allowing 40 runs over 98 innings.
But things haven’t clicked since then. His career ERA now sits at 4.77, and his recent performance tells the story. He threw 4.1 scoreless innings in one appearance for Baltimore this season, which looked encouraging.
Then came four games with the Rockies. Eight runs allowed in 8.1 innings.
That’s where this Japanese opportunity comes in. Contreras just turned 26 in November, so he’s still young enough to reinvent himself overseas and potentially work his way back to the majors down the road.
The move makes sense for both sides. The Golden Eagles get a pitcher with big league experience who’s looking to prove himself. Contreras gets a chance to refine his craft away from the pressure of constantly fighting for roster spots.
NPB has become a legitimate development path for players looking to get back to the majors. The competition is strong, and the coaching is thorough. If Contreras can find his command and consistency in Japan, there’s definitely a path back stateside.
For now, the Dominican right-hander heads across the Pacific to continue his baseball career with a clean slate.
