Craig Breslow has ruled the trade market so far this offseason, and the Boston Red Sox have lost multiple major league relievers in deals to open up 40-man roster spots. Boston will need to sign someone to help it eat those lost late innings.
A reunion with veteran reliever Chris Martin could've be a possibility — at least until December 16. According to Chris Cotillo of MassLive, Martin, who has debated retirement a few times already in his career, has decided he'll pitch in 2026, and the Red Sox were interested. But on Tuesday, he re-signed with the Texas Rangers to continue his career in his home state, first reported by MLB insider Jeff Passan, officially killing any chance of a reunion with Boston. It's a one-year deal, pending a physical.
Martin ia s 10-year MLB veteran, and his career included a two-year stint in Japan from 2016-17. He pitched for Boston in 2023-24, and the first of his retirement rumors came during his second season. Martin continued to pitch, but opted to return to Texas to join the Rangers rather than stick with the Red Sox on a higher offer.
Boston was willing to make Martin such an offer because he was exceedingly successful in his two seasons with the club. In 2023, Martin posted a 1.05 ERA, 1.032 WHIP, 199 ERA+, 46 strikeouts and eight walks in 51.1 innings. He placed 12th in American League Cy Young Award voting. Martin didn't maintain the same level of success into the next season, but he was still valuable in the Sox's bullpen, to the tune of a 3.45 ERA with 50 strikeouts and three walks in 44.1 innings.
Red Sox miss out on potential reunion with Chris Martin after he re-signs with Rangers
Martin is right-handed and he's going into his age-40 season — quite a bit older than most of the other arms in Boston's bullpen. He wouldn't have been a perfect replacement for some of the pitchers the Sox have lost in trades this offseason, but Martin is still seemingly at the top of his game. He clocked a 2.98 ERA, 174 ERA+, 43 strikeouts and eight walks in 42.1 innings with the Rangers.
Martin's command is still rock-solid, but his innings count has decreased steadily in his last three seasons. With the Red Sox, Martin spent time on the injured list with an infection and anxiety in different years, and he missed about two months of the Rangers' 2025 season with a calf strain. Still, his continued success into the later years of his career could make it worth it to sign him, despite the injury risk.
The Sox already have Garrett Whitlock and Aroldis Chapman as a deadly tandem at the back end of their bullpen, and adding Martin to it would've been terrifying for opposing batters. Unfortunately, such a deadly trio will not come to fruition for the Red Sox.