The Rangers are bringing back Chris Martin on a one-year deal pending a physical, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN.
Right-handed reliever Chris Martin and the Texas Rangers are in agreement on a one-year contract, sources tell ESPN. Martin, 39, posted a 2.98 ERA over 49 appearances with Texas and will return to the staff that had the best ERA in baseball this year.
It’s a sensible move for both sides, even if Martin’s 2025 season tells a complicated story.
When healthy, the 39-year-old reliever was exactly what Texas needed in their bullpen. He dominated early in the season, posting a 1.83 ERA through 22 appearances between March and May. That’s the Chris Martin who finished 12th in AL Cy Young voting back in 2023 with Boston.
The problem? Staying on the field.
Martin hit the injured list three separate times last season. First came shoulder fatigue in May, then a left calf strain in July. The most concerning was thoracic outlet syndrome in September, which typically requires extensive rehab whether you have surgery or not.
That’s why Texas will probably be careful with his workload this time around. They know what they’re getting when Martin’s right – he’s got a 3.33 career ERA across ten MLB seasons and seven teams since debuting in 2014.
What makes this signing interesting is that Martin was seriously considering retirement after last season. According to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com, he recently changed his mind.
That suggests Martin feels good physically and believes he’s got something left in the tank. For a Rangers bullpen that posted the best ERA in baseball this year, adding a proven veteran – even one with recent injury concerns – makes sense.
The Rangers aren’t betting big here either. Financial details haven’t been released, but one-year deals for relievers Martin’s age typically come with modest guarantees and performance incentives.
From where I’m sitting, this feels like smart business. Martin knows the organization, he’s shown he can still get outs when healthy, and Texas gets another experienced arm for what should be a manageable cost.
The question isn’t whether Martin can pitch – it’s whether he can stay healthy enough to make a real impact. Given his injury history, the Rangers will probably treat him more like a luxury than a necessity.
That’s probably the right approach with a 39-year-old coming off multiple IL stints.
