Rangers Re-Sign Veteran Reliever Chris Martin for Bullpen Depth

The Texas Rangers are bringing back a key veteran arm for another run. They’ve inked 39-year-old right-hander Chris Martin to a one-year extension for the 2026 season.

After a 2025 campaign filled with injuries and flashes of effectiveness, Martin briefly weighed retirement. Instead, he chose to extend his career in Arlington, giving Texas a familiar late-inning option as they navigate a tighter budget and retool their pitching staff.

Chris Martin Chooses One More Season Over Retirement

Chris Martin turned 39 in June 2025 and looked like a classic candidate to walk away from the game. Multiple injured list stints and a major health scare late in the year cast real doubt over his future.

He and the Rangers found common ground on a one-year extension that keeps him in a bullpen he helped stabilize when healthy. Martin had seriously considered retirement after dealing with thoracic outlet syndrome, a condition that’s ended or altered many pitchers’ careers.

His decision to return signals confidence in his health. He clearly believes he can still miss bats at a high level in 2026.

A Veteran Presence in a Transitioning Bullpen

By keeping Martin, the Rangers retain a proven late-inning option. He’s also a veteran voice in a bullpen that’s already seen significant turnover.

With several of last winter’s short-term relief additions now in free agency, his experience will be central to whatever group Texas assembles for 2026.

Injuries Defined His 2025, But the Performance Was Still Elite

Martin’s 2025 stat line tells the story of a pitcher who was highly effective when he could actually take the ball. The problem was staying on the mound.

Texas cycled through options as he battled his way through a series of physical setbacks. Across multiple IL trips, Martin still managed to show he can pitch at a high level.

For a club trying to win on the margins financially, that kind of upside on a short-term deal remains extremely valuable.

Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Ends His Season Early

Martin’s year started with shoulder fatigue. Then came a calf strain, and ultimately thoracic outlet syndrome shut him down before season’s end.

That diagnosis is often ominous for pitchers, but when he was available, he remained the same precise, strike-throwing reliever he’s been for much of his career.

In total, he worked 42 1/3 innings with a 2.98 ERA. He paired a strong 24.7% strikeout rate with elite control, walking just 4.6% of opposing hitters.

Those are late-inning numbers for any club. It’s exactly the type of profile Texas needs as it rebuilds its relief corps on a budget.

Martin’s Arsenal Still Plays in the Modern Game

Even as he nears 40, Martin’s stuff hasn’t fallen off in a way that suggests imminent collapse. He still uses a deep repertoire that lets him attack different types of hitters and sequences.

He’s definitely more than a one-trick veteran hanging on. His fastball velocity remains in the competitive range, and his mix of pitches gives him weapons to generate weak contact and swings and misses.

A Mid-90s Fastball With a Diverse Mix Behind It

Martin still sits in the mid-90s with both his four-seam fastball and sinker. That’s a crucial indicator his arm strength survived the injury-plagued season.

Behind the heaters, he leans on a varied arsenal that includes:

• Cutter – a hard, late-moving pitch that bores in on barrels
• Splitter – a chase pitch that plays off his fastball plane
• Slider – used to change eye levels and disrupt timing
• Knuckle curve – a slower breaker to keep hitters honest

This combination, paired with his command, gives Martin options in high-leverage spots. Even if his raw velocity starts to taper as he moves deeper into his late 30s, he’s got ways to get outs.

Rangers’ Payroll Reality Makes Martin a Smart Fit

The Rangers’ decision to extend Martin is as much about economics and roster construction as it is about sentimentality. Texas is operating under real financial constraints heading into 2026.

The front office has leaned heavily on short-term, cost-efficient bullpen deals to stay competitive. With their 2026 payroll projected to be roughly $50 million lower than the 2025 figure, every marginal dollar matters.

Martin’s one-year pact fits neatly into that strategy. It’s low risk, short term, but with meaningful upside if he stays healthy.

No 40-Man Crunch, Big Bullpen Opportunity

Here’s something important: the Rangers had a couple of open spots on their 40-man roster. That meant they didn’t need to make a corresponding move to finalize Martin’s extension.

It’s a straightforward transaction and shows just how flexible their roster is right now, especially with pitching.

As they try to reinforce the rotation and rebuild the bullpen, bringing Martin back gives them a steady, familiar presence. He’s not the star of their 2026 plan, but in a season where the budget’s tight and the roster keeps changing, he’s the kind of veteran who can quietly tip close games—and maybe even seasons—their way.

 
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