As the Rangers continue to rebuild their bullpen, their target list includes local products, with Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News writing that the team is interested in the Arlington native Chris Martin. The veteran reliever said in September that he “95%” It’s confirmed that 2025 will be his final season, and with Martin believed to be prioritizing a team closer to his home in Texas, a return to the Rangers would be a big deal for both parties. logical meaning.
Although Martin turns 39 in June and will likely be entering his farewell season, his recent results suggest the right-hander still has plenty of energy left. Martin had a 3.45 ERA in 44 1/3 innings with the Red Sox last season, and a 2.43 SIERA is more reflective of his level of performance. His ability to generate ground balls (46.3 percent ground ball rate) was undermined by Boston’s poor infield defense, which resulted in a .353 BABIP and contributed to Martin’s misleading ERA.
The rest of his metrics range from above-average to elite, including a 27.8% strikeout rate, strong soft-contact numbers, and Martin’s typically excellent control. Martin has long been one of the best control pitchers in baseball, and his 1.7% walk rate in 2024 was the lowest among pitchers with at least 40 innings pitched. Perhaps the only question mark for Martin last year was his health, as he was placed on the 15-day injured list three times due to anxiety, right elbow inflammation and left shoulder issues.
Martin was a late bloomer, not making his MLB debut until age 28, when he pitched for the Rockies in 2014. After being 6.19, he entered the Major League Baseball (MLB).
This success allowed Martin to return to North American baseball pitching in the 2016-17 offseason, pitch for his hometown team, and sign a two-year, $40,000 contract with the Rangers. His time in Texas allowed Martin to showcase his future self, and his success early in the 2019 season prompted Atlanta to land him on a deal at the 2019 trade deadline. More than five years later, Martin may now be considering a return to Arlington with a World Series ring (2021 Braves), $34MM more in career earnings and a reputation as a consistent, high-leverage reliever .
Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young told Grant and other reporters, “Bullpen is main focus“Texas has already started working on that the rest of the offseason and throughout the season.” Robert Garcia, Jacob Weber, Sean Armstrongand Hobey Milner All players have been acquired so far, but a more established reliever like Martin would go a long way to stabilizing the situation. Kirby Yates and AJ Minter are two other unsigned relievers rumored to be linked to the Rangers this offseason.
