*Photo from the Los Angeles Times*
Needing to address the bullpen, the Red Sox made a move to try and do that. The Boston Red Sox and RHP Chris Martin have agreed to a two year, $17.5 million deal, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. The deal has been confirmed.
Boston had a leaky bullpen last season, converting just 39 of 67 save opportunities while ranking 26th in the majors with a 4.59 bullpen ERA. Martin is a step in the right direction for this group, being a proven late inning option while not having a walk issue. He allowed just 5 walks in 2022 and figures to be a primary setup option.
Split between the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers last season, Martin threw 56 innings. He posted a 3.05 ERA, 2.18 FIP, and 0.98 WHIP, appearing in 60 games out of the bullpen while picking up two saves. He had two scoreless appearances in the postseason for the Dodgers last season.
Martin has 7 big league seasons with 6 different teams under his belt. In that time, he has a 3.84 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and 3.10 FIP, striking out 261 hitters while walking just 34 in 251 innings pitched, making 269 career appearances. In the postseason, Martin has a 0-1 record with a 1.88 ERA and 0.98 WHIP in 14 1/3 innings pitched, making 16 appearances.
Martin originally made his big league debut with the Colorado Rockies in 2014, playing with the New York Yankees in 2015 before spending a few seasons in Japan. He returned with the Texas Rangers in 2018 and part of 2019 before getting flipped to the Braves, winning a World Series in 2021. He then spent 2022 with both the Cubs and Dodgers before his deal with Boston.
The back end of the Red Sox bullpen now projects to feature Martin, John Schreiber, and Matt Barnes, among others in the mix entering 2023.
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