Jan. 7: Martin’s cope with the Rangers ensures him $5.5MM, Robert Murray of FanSided stories. Murray provides that Martin turned down more cash from different golf equipment to return to his hometown membership for what’ll be the ultimate season of his profession. WEEI’s Rob Bradford stories that the Pink Sox had been one group that made a extra profitable supply.
Jan. 6: The Rangers introduced the signing of veteran reliever Chris Martin to a one-year deal. Monetary phrases stay unreported. Martin is represented by ISE Baseball. Texas designated Matt Festa for project to open a 40-man roster spot.
Martin, an Arlington native, heads house for what’ll possible be his ultimate season. The 38-year-old righty stated in September that he’s 95% assured he’ll retire after 2025. That’s not due to a dip in effectiveness. Martin stays a succesful high-leverage arm and is coming off a robust two-year run in Boston.
The Pink Sox inked Martin to a $17.5MM free agent deal over the 2022-23 offseason. It was a little bit of a bet contemplating his age, however the nine-year MLB veteran made good on that funding inside one season. Martin turned in a blinding 1.05 earned run common throughout 51 1/3 innings in 2023. He earned a pair down-ballot Cy Younger votes within the course of.
Final season was extra good than dominant. Martin labored to a 3.45 ERA whereas throwing 44 1/3 innings. He had a short injured checklist stint associated to nervousness in the midst of June. Martin additionally missed a month with elbow irritation between early July and the primary week of August. He returned with 10 innings and just one earned run over the following couple weeks earlier than permitting six runs in eight September frames.
Martin was virtually actually not going to handle an ERA round 1.00 in consecutive seasons. His strikeout and stroll profile truly improved final yr. He fanned 27.8% of batters confronted after operating a 23.1% strikeout charge in 2023. Martin minimize his already pristine stroll charge from 4% to a career-low 1.7% clip. He’s arguably the very best strike-thrower within the majors. No pitcher with at the least 100 innings during the last three seasons has issued walks at a decrease charge than Martin (2.6%).
Over his two seasons with the Sox, Martin managed a 2.16 ERA throughout 95 1/3 innings. He has discovered success at each cease since getting back from a stint in Japan between 2016-17. That features a earlier run in Texas. The Rangers had been the group that gave Martin an opportunity through the 2017-18 offseason. He mixed for 79 2/3 innings of three.84 ERA ball earlier than being traded to the Braves on the 2019 deadline.
Texas has loaded on up on short-term additions to repair a bullpen that might lose every of Kirby Yates, David Robertson, José Leclerc and José Ureña. They’ve signed Shawn Armstrong, Jacob Webb and Hoby Milner on one-year contracts value $2.5MM or much less. Texas additionally introduced in southpaw Robert Garcia from Washington within the Nathaniel Lowe commerce. Whereas funds on Martin are unreported, it’s truthful to imagine he’ll be the most costly of Chris Younger’s bullpen acquisitions up to now. Nonetheless, there’s restricted draw back with a one-year deal.
Martin is probably the most skilled of the Texas relievers. He has labored in a setup capability all through his profession and has by no means saved greater than 4 video games in a season. It’s unclear if the Rangers plan for him to shut or will use him in leverage spots. Yates and Robertson have much more closing expertise and are nonetheless free brokers. Regardless of the function, Martin provides a lot wanted stability to a bullpen that may nonetheless be the group’s greatest query.
Texas signed Festa, 31, to a minor league deal final season. The Rangers chosen his contract in August. He made 18 appearances over the ultimate six weeks, working to a 4.37 ERA throughout 22 2/3 innings. The righty had made a short look for the Mets earlier within the yr. He has spent the majority of his profession with the Mariners, with whom he posted a 4.32 ERA in 89 outings over 4 seasons. Texas could have 5 days to commerce Festa or place him on waivers.
Picture courtesy of USA At present Sports activities.
