Chris Martin Signs With the Rangers

[Davy Andrews]

On Monday night, Anthony Franco of MLB Trade Rumors wrote that Chris Martin is signing a one-year deal with the Rangers. This outcome always seemed the likeliest, as the 38-year-old Martin lives in Texas and had made it known that he was looking to retire after 2025 and wanted to spend his final season pitching closer to home. All the same, it's a sad day for the Red Sox. It's hard to overstate just how good Martin has been, not just with the Red Sox over the past two years, but over his entire career. Martin has a career 2.96 FIP. This century, among the 366 different relievers who have thrown at least 300 innings, that ranks 25th. Since 2020, 70 relievers have thrown at least 200 innings. Among that group, Martin's 2.66 ERA ranks ninth. The Red Sox have added to the bullpen this offseason, but they haven't added anyone with a consistent track record for success like Martin's, and they're sure to miss him.

View full rumor

[moonslav59]

Martin had one of the best RP'er seasons among Sox pitchers in the 50+ years I have been watching. Maybe top 10, although WAR does not show that, due to lower IP than some way back in the day. 

7th best FIP and 2nd best ERA- since '72.

[Jasonbay44]

Wish him the best of luck. Very likable player and had an outstanding 2023. My only complaint is he came here at the end of his career as opposed to earlier and his dominance was short lived. 

[moonslav59]

10 minutes ago, Jasonbay44 said:

Wish him the best of luck. Very likable player and had an outstanding 2023. My only complaint is he came here at the end of his career as opposed to earlier and his dominance was short lived. 

One could argue his 2023 was the best of his career. Some of his earlier years were not the apple of my eye, but yes, having someone like him through hi prime would have been nice. He started in the bigs at age 28 and pitched very little. He went to Japan at ages 30-31. 2018 was his first full season in MLB.

He had 6 seasons with over 40 IP: here they are:

'16 42 IP 4.54 ERA/1.22 WHIP

'19 56 IP 3.40/1.02

'21 43 IP 3.95/1.27

'22 56 IP 3.05/0.98

'23 51 IP 1.05/1.03

'24 44 IP 3.45/1.23

It looks like getting him one year earlier would have been the best we could have hoped for.