12 Red Sox Who Won't Be Back in 2025 After Falling Short of Playoffs Again
By Ryan Bunton
6. Chris Martin
Chris Martin signed a two-year, $13.5 million deal with the Red Sox in Dec. 2022, and was immediately one of the best relievers in baseball in 2023, holding opponents to a remarkable 1.05 ERA in 55 games.
Despite all of their bullpen problems, Martin remained one of Boston's most dependable arms in 2024. In 45 appearances for the Red Sox this season, Martin posted a 3-1 record with a 3.53 ERA and 50 strikeouts in 44.1 innings pitched.
Martin is an unrestricted free agent this offseason. The 38-year-old won a World Series in 2021 with the Atlanta Braves, and he would likely be a good fit for a team that has a solid shot at making a deep postseason run in 2025. The Boston Red Sox should be one of those franchises – but that is another discussion.
This was Martin's ninth season in the big leagues. He has followed an unconventional path, as he did not make his MLB debut until age 28 in 2014 and spent the 2016 and 2017 seasons in Japan. Martin has also played for the Colorado Rockies, New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs, and Los Angeles Dodgers.