3 Red Sox Playing Their Final Season in Boston in 2024

2. RHP Chris Martin

While several Red Sox struggled to produce last season, Chris Martin was the opposite.

The former 2005 21st-rounder experienced a career year on the mound in 2023. Martin made 55 relief appearances, going 4-1 with a 1.05 ERA and 1.032 WHIP while striking out 46 batters across 51 1/3 innings. His efforts were also good enough to see him finish 12th in the AL Cy Young voting.

If Martin picks up from where he left off, there's a good chance that interested suitors will blow up the Red Sox's phone. A similar performance to last year's is exactly what teams want to see from a veteran reliever come playoff time. Like Jansen, Martin is also a free agent at the end of the season, so it makes sense that Boston would at least try to get some sort of prospect in return rather than losing him for nothing.

Martin already won a World Series with the Braves in 2021, but you have to imagine he'd be all for winning a second ring elsewhere if the Red Sox aren't going anywhere this season.

3. RHP Tanner Houck

Following a strong 2022 campaign, Tanner Houck left much to be desired when he returned to a full-time starting role last season.

Making a career-high 21 starts, Houck pitched to a 6-10 record and 5.01 ERA as he allowed 59 earned runs and 14 homers while issuing 41 walks across 106 innings. He rarely put together consecutive strong starts, leaving fans wondering if he should've been drafted 24th overall by the Red Sox in 2017.

Even though Houck isn't on an expiring contract, his future in Boston is far from safe. For starters, he turns 28 this summer, meaning we've potentially already seen the best that he has to offer. He was also involved in trade rumors last season with The Athletic's Jen McCaffrey reporting in October that the Red Sox would be willing to move Houck if it meant bringing in a big-name player.

Houck, 27, is still under team control until 2028, which could be attractive to a team that has long-term goals rather than those with a 'win now' mentality.

More Boston Red Sox news and rumors: