Red Sox interested in bringing back veteran reliever in free agency
Red Sox interested in bringing back veteran reliever in free agency
The Red Sox have two key members of their bullpen that are free agents this offseason in closer Kenley Jansen and reliever Chris Martin. There is no chance that Jansen will re-sign with Boston, but the club is expressing interest in bringing back Martin.
The 38-year-old reliever pitched well in his two years in the backend of the Red Sox bullpen. During his time in Boston, Martin posted a 2.16 ERA in 100 games with five saves. His best season came in 2023, where he recorded a 1.05 ERA in 55 games, picking up a CY Young vote in the process.
Martin is only seeking a one-year deal because he intends to retire at the end of the 2025 season.
“Obviously it’s pretty clear the value he had,” chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said to reporters at the GM Meetings on Wednesday. “We saw that when he was pitching and when we didn’t have him available to pitch. And so we know we have some work to do in kind of rebuilding the bullpen and obviously could see there being a fit there.”
Martin missed some time in 2024 with right elbow inflammation and anxiety related issues. He hurled just 44 1/3 innings while striking out 50 batters and walking only three. The veteran only walked 11 hitters during his two seasons with the Red Sox.
“He’s earned the right to get here (to free agency), and we need to figure out how all the pieces come together, but guys who can go months and months between walks are valuable,” Breslow said.
Martin is “open” to returning to the Red Sox, according to MassLive’s Christopher Smith.
“There are nine relievers on the free agent market who posted a WAR of 2.0 or higher in 2024,” Smith said. “The group includes both Kenley Jansen (2.5 WAR) and Chris Martin (2.4 WAR), who both are free agents after spending 2023 and ‘24 with Boston.
“As noted Thursday on MassLive, there’s zero chance Jansen re-signs while Martin is open to a return on a one-year contract. Both Liam Hendriks and Justin Slaten are candidates to replace Jansen as the closer.”
Boston signed Martin in December of 2022 to a two-year, $17.5 million pact.
