Red Sox veteran reliever eyes retirement: 'I’d say 95% that next year will be my last year'
Red Sox set-up man Chris Martin is looking to retire at the end of the 2025 season. Martin has spent the last two years in Boston as a key member of their bullpen.
“To be 100% honest, I think next year will be my last year,” Martin told Christopher Smith of MassLive. “We have a fourth (child) on the way. Obviously, I want to be there for them. And they’re getting to the ages where they’re starting to play sports. I’m getting older. Obviously, I'm 40 years old, and playing baseball is going to be hard on me mentally and physically. I think that probably will be the cutoff. We’ll see. I don’t want to say 100%. I’d say 95% that next year will be my last year.”
Martin has had a difficult season, as he missed time with anxiety in June and then was on the injured list with right elbow inflammation for a month starting in July. The right-hander has still pitched to a 3.43 ERA with 46 strikeouts and only three walks (one intentional) over 39 1/3 innings.
He is scheduled to be a free agent this offseason. It remains to be seen whether the Red Sox and Martin will agree to a new deal. If the veteran righty were to return, he would join a bullpen that should include Justin Slaten, Liam Hendriks, and Garret Whitlock in 2025.
With the regular season coming to an end, the Orioles made a significant move to alter their bullpen.
The Orioles designated reliever Craig Kimbrel for assignment, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Baltimore recalled right-handed pitcher Bryan Baker from Triple-A Norfolk.
Kimbrel struggled out of the O’s bullpen this season, recording a 5.33 ERA in 52 1/3 innings. He also struck out 73 batters while walking 31. The former Sox closer posted 5.3 walks per nine innings in 57 games.
Baltimore was hopeful that the former All-Star closer would be a high-leverage relief option with the loss of reliever Félix Bautista, who had Tommy John surgery that forced him to miss the season.
