The Texas Rangers are aiming to regain their position at the top of the MLB hierarchy after a challenging 2024 season, and they are reaching out to a familiar personality to assist them in this endeavor. According to Robert Murray of Fansided, the Rangers have reached an agreement with relief pitcher Chris Martin, finalizing a one-year deal with him, although the financial details of the arrangement remain undisclosed.
Martin is a beloved figure among Rangers supporters, and it’s easy to understand why. He is originally from Arlington, Texas — the home base of the Rangers. Furthermore, Martin is not merely a promotional addition who was signed solely for the fan engagement he generates. He continues to be a valuable reliever even at the age of 38.
In the last two seasons with the Boston Red Sox, Martin recorded a 2.16 ERA over 95.2 innings pitched (across 100 appearances). The slight decrease in his fastball speed in 2024 is somewhat concerning (he lost one mile per hour on his fastball), but the fact that his strikeout ratio remained impressive should alleviate any apprehensions in that area.
The rise in his ERA from 1.05 in 2023 to 3.45 in 2024 can be attributed to an uptick in the batting average on balls in play against him, along with an increase in the home run per fly ball ratio. Nevertheless, a 3.45 ERA over 44.1 innings is certainly commendable, and the Rangers have acquired a reliable bullpen arm without straining their finances.
Martin first played for the Rangers back in 2018, and it was in Texas that he first established his rhythm. In 2019, the Rangers traded him at the deadline to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for Kolby Allard.
Rangers prepare for a stronger 2025 season
Defending the World Series is always a challenge. The Rangers can undoubtedly confirm that. Following a successful 2023 season, Texas primarily retained their roster, but they witnessed declines in performance from several key players, and their injury issues exacerbated the situation.
This offseason, the Rangers have implemented several measures to address their 2024 difficulties. They acquired power hitter Joc Pederson during free agency and traded for Jake Burger, a player who achieved 29 home runs last season. They also signed Kyle Higashioka for added depth while successfully re-signing Nathan Eovaldi. Then on Monday, they re-signed Chris Martin to bolster their bullpen. General manager Chris Young was truthful when he stated that he would be adding multiple components to the team to restore them to the top where they envision themselves.
Image Source: Chris Martin @ Instagram
