Red Sox Reportedly Interested In Reunion With Free Agent Pitcher

The Boston Red Sox are reportedly eyeing a former relief pitcher in free agency.

Boston is interested in Chris Martin, per MassLive’s Chris Cotillo. The right-handed reliever plans to fend off retirement and pitch in 2026.

Martin played an instrumental role in Boston’s bullpen when posting a pristine 1.05 ERA in 2023. He even garnered an American League Cy Young Award vote before regressing to a still solid 3.45 ERA in 2024.

Martin returned to the Texas Rangers, where he pitched in 2018 and 2019, on a one-year deal last offseason. The former 21st-round pick tallied a 2.98 ERA in 49 appearances but his highest WHIP (1.20) since 2021.

Few pitchers pound the strike zone like Martin, who has never issued double-digit walks in 10 MLB seasons. He has the highest K/BB ratio (8.7) of any reliever since 2019, handily besting runner-up Liam Hendriks (7.0).

Despite those skills, age and health concerns may force Martin to settle for a modest contract. Martin, who will turn 40 in June, missed time with a shoulder fatigue, a left calf strain and a hand issue last season after working 44 1/3 innings for Boston in 2024.

The Red Sox, or any other team that signs Martin, likely can’t expect a bullpen workhorse. Yet he could still offer quality innings alongside setup man Garrett Whitlock as another late-game bridge to star closer Aroldis Chapman.

Justin Slaten and Greg Weissert could also return as high-leverage bullpen arms next season.