Because the Rangers proceed to rebuild their bullpen, their checklist of targets features a native product, as Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning Information writes that the staff has curiosity in Arlington native Chris Martin. The veteran reliever mentioned in September that he’s “95%” sure that 2025 can be his final season, and since Martin is regarded as prioritizing groups nearer to his dwelling in Texas, a return to the Rangers would make loads of logical sense for each side.
Although Martin turns 39 in June and is probably going getting into his farewell season, his latest outcomes point out that the right-hander has loads left within the tank. Martin posted a 3.45 ERA in 44 1/3 innings for the Pink Sox final season, with a 2.43 SIERA that’s extra reflective his efficiency degree. His capacity to generate grounders (46.3% groundball price) was undermined by Boston’s poor infield protection, resulting in a .353 BABIP that fueled Martin’s deceptive ERA.
The remainder of his metrics ranged from above-average to elite, together with a 27.8% strikeout price, robust soft-contact numbers, and Martin’s sometimes good management. Lengthy one in every of baseball’s greatest management pitchers, Martin’s 1.7% stroll price in 2024 was the bottom of any hurler with a minimum of 40 innings pitched. Maybe the one query mark clouding Martin final yr was his well being, as he had three completely different journeys to the 15-day injured checklist because of nervousness, proper elbow irritation, and a problem along with his left shoulder.
Martin is a late bloomer who didn’t make his MLB debut till age 28 when he was pitching for the Rockies in 2014. After posting a 6.19 ERA in 36 1/3 innings with the Rockies and Yankees in 2014-15, he went to Japan and posted excellent numbers over the following two seasons with the Nippon-Ham Fighters.
This success led to a two-year, $4MM cope with the Rangers in the course of the 2016-17 offseason, as Martin made his return to North American baseball pitching for his hometown staff. The stint in Texas noticed Martin present flashes of his future self, and his success early within the 2019 season led Atlanta to swing a deal for him on the 2019 commerce deadline. Over 5 years later, Martin may now be contemplating a return to Arlington with a World Collection ring (with the 2021 Braves) and $34MM extra in profession earnings in tow, in addition to an earned status as a gentle high-leverage reliever.
Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Younger informed Grant and different reporters that “the bullpen is the first focus” for the staff within the the rest of the offseason and in the course of the season, and Texas has gotten a begin on that work already his winter. Robert Garcia, Jacob Webb, Shawn Armstrong, and Hoby Milner have all been acquired to this point, however a extra confirmed late-innings reliever like Martin would vastly stabilize issues. Kirby Yates and A.J. Minter are two of the opposite still-unsigned relievers linked to the Rangers on the rumor mill this offseason.
