After an up-and-down 2025 season with the Texas Rangers, right-handed (and really tall) reliever Chris Martin thought-about retirement. But according to Chris Cotillo, Martin is each (probably) not retiring and an individual of curiosity for the Boston Red Sox! He’s not prepared to hold up the spikes simply but.
However, curiosity is feeling prefer it’s changing into the Pee-Wee’s Playhouse secret phrase of the Red Sox. Every time it’s talked about by the media is the entrance workplace doing this:
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Who is he and the place does he come from?
A ten-year, 7-team veteran who stands 6’8”, Chris Martin has pitched in each leagues and from coast-to-coast. He was a twenty first spherical draft decide by the Colorado Rockies again in 2005. (Roman Anthony was born in 2004). He spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons with Boston the place, on the superior baseball ages of 36 and 37, he put up a 2.16/2.60 ERA/FIP over 95.2 innings (100 appearances on the nostril). He completed 21 video games however solely recorded 5 saves. While a stalwart within the ‘pen, he was on two Sox teams that couldn’t put issues collectively to make a run. He wasn’t the nearer however he pitched like one. In 2023 he completed twelfth in Cy Young voting. His solely time receiving votes in any respect! He is from Arlington, Texas so returning actually to his residence city for 2025 pondering it was his last season made sense. But if he’s sticking round, apparently a Boston reunion is feasible.
Is he any good?
Martin has been a great reliever over his profession. He averages 1.2 bWAR per 162 video games. Not exhibiting off, not falling behind. Right in that meaty a part of the curve. He holds a lifetime 3.33/3.03 ERA/FIP. He has nice strikeout-to-walk numbers and Ok’s simply over 25% of batters whereas strolling solely 3%. He’s a 40ish inning man – however he by no means put up gaudy reliever innings totals so even heading into his age-40 season, 40 innings might be an inexpensive estimate.
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TLDR; simply give me his 2025 stats.
Games/Innings: 49/41.2
ERA/FIP: 2.98/3.58
Ok/BB: 43/8
All for the Texas Rangers.
He hit the IL in May and missed a pair weeks however got here again and pitched OK the remainder of the way in which. Martin allowed 6 residence runs all yr however 3 had been in a single sport in opposition to the Baltimore Orioles.
Why would he be a great match on the Red Sox?
You can by no means have too many good relievers is the primary, most evident purpose. He’d even be searching for a brief deal since he nearly retired this yr. He made simply $5.5 million in 2025 so he’d be reasonably priced if time and age catch up. And he’s already conversant in Fenway Park, Alex Cora, and the Red Sox Way or no matter.
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Why wouldn’t he be a great match on the Red Sox?
Martin can be signing a significant league free agent deal and couldn’t be optioned to the minors. The Sox, like the remainder of the league, wish to have some flexibility on stashing their relievers in AAA for a bit. That’s not going to be potential right here. He’s additionally outdated and the Sox danger holding the recent potato when the music stops. If Martin envisions himself pitching quite a lot of eighth innings he’s most likely out of luck.
Show my a cool spotlight.
You obtained it. Winning power proper there!
Smash or cross?
Let’s say SMASH. The danger is low. The upside is there. The cash is low. And any inning he can scoop up is yet one more that that Whitlock and Chapman don’t must toss. The Sox do have some younger pitchers who could possibly be out there for the bullpen as effectively, but when they’re prepared earlier than anticipated and are contributing, effectively, you cross that bridge once you come to it.