Chris Martin, a veteran reliever for the Red Sox who turns 38 in June and becomes a free agent at the end of the season, says he still plans to play in 2025, But according to Martin, “95%” of the upcoming season will be his last.
Fans who enjoy frank remarks from the towering 6-foot-8 righty will want to read the whole interview with Smith, as he goes into great detail about the choice. In general, Martin cites his desire to wind things up following the 2025 campaign as being motivated by his growing family (his wife is expecting their fourth child) and the growing toll the game can take on one’s physical and mental health in the later stages of a career.
In 2024, Martin has had multiple stints on the injured list due to a left shoulder issue, right elbow inflammation, and anxiety. When he has pitched, he’s been solid, recording a 3.35 ERA over 40 1/3 innings. Consistent with his track record, he has struck out batters at an above-average rate and demonstrated possibly the best command in Major League Baseball.
He has a strikeout rate of 28.8 percent and an extremely low walk rate of just 1.2 percent, which is remarkable even for him. His career walk rate stands at 3.2 percent, and since 2021, it’s been 2.7 percent, showcasing his exceptional control.
Although Martin’s four-seam fastball has lost about a mile per hour this season due to injuries, it still averages 94.7 mph. This slight decrease hasn’t significantly affected his performance; his swinging strike rate remains steady at 11 percent, and his opponents’ contact rate is slightly down from 80 percent to 79.7 percent.
In fact, his four-seamer has performed better this year, with opponents hitting .241 and slugging .389 against it, compared to .313 and .521 last season. Conversely, his sinker has been hit hard this season, leading him to reduce its usage from 15 percent in 2023 to 8.7 percent in 2024. This has contributed to a drop in his ground-ball rate, from 51 percent last year to 44 percent this year, but his combination of strikeouts, command, and grounders continues to be effective for the nine-year veteran.
Importantly, Martin has not specified whether he intends to finish his career with the Red Sox or another team. Given his impressive performance under his current two-year, $17.5 million contract, it would be surprising if the Red Sox did not want to retain him. He has accumulated 91 2/3 innings with a 2.06 ERA, excellent strikeout and walk rates, along with 37 holds and five saves.
Interest in Martin is expected to be high, reflecting his strong overall track record. He has maintained a sub-4.00 ERA for six consecutive seasons and has recorded sub-2.00 ERAs twice during that time, boasting a cumulative 2.79 ERA, 83 holds, and 13 saves since 2019.
Given his age and plans to retire after the 2025 season, he will likely seek a contract with a contender in hopes of winning a second World Series title, having previously won with the 2021 Braves.
While he will face competition in the relief market, his likely preference for one-year deals should attract numerous interested teams. He will be among the top leverage relievers available.
Other notable names in the setup role this season include David Robertson, A.J. Minter, Yimi Garcia, Andrew Kittredge, and Tommy Kahnle. Additionally, impending free agents such as Kirby Yates, Carlos Estevez, Clay Holmes, Aroldis Chapman, and teammate Kenley Jansen have significant closing experience in 2024.
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