Rangers latest roster move ensures fans will no longer be victimized by this bullpen disappointment

Every athlete who has ever donned the spikes and taken to the ballfield has reached the point where their body can no longer do what it once could. That time has officially come for former Texas Rangers right-handed reliever Chris Martin.

The Rangers released the 40-year-old on August 8 after he was DFA'd on August 3 and cleared waivers. The move came after he was reinstated from his third IL stint of the season due to a right shoulder injury. It was a rocky year-and-a-half run for the towering hurler who was born right around the corner from Globe Life Field in Arlington and dreamed of playing for the hometown team. It would be disingenuous to say that his absence will hurt the team, but you have to admire how he kept at it for so long.

Rangers fans were frustrated by Chris Martin's inconsistency and numerous injuries as he got older

In 11 major league seasons, Martin was, for the most part, a solid middle-innings eater, posting a 3.53 ERA and 1.16 WHIP over 403 innings pitched. Unfortunately for the Rangers and the fanbase, they got a hold of him too late in his career. They were not able to witness the good Martin, who had a spectacular 2023 season for the Boston Red Sox, flashing a nifty 1.05 ERA and 3.2 bWAR while fanning 46 and walking only 8 over 51.1 frames.

The Rangers got a pitcher who had been visited by Father Time, suffering several mysterious injuries in 2025, which limited his availability and effectiveness. It was the same story this season, as he posted a 9.00 ERA over 14 innings. The club decided it was time to cut bait with Martin on the trade deadline day. It's too bad because the bullpen really needed (and still does) a solid right-handed middleman. The 2023 version of Martin would have been ideal as the 6th- or 7th-inning bridge guy whom Skip Schumaker could use in high-leverage situations to get the ball to Jakob Junis and Jacob Latz to finish games.

It remains to be seen if Martin will try to latch on with another club or call it a career. In the meantime, newcomer Chase Silseth and Peyton Gray will be asked to fill the lion's share of Martin's shoes in the right-handed middle relief role.

Jakob Junis should be set to return from the IL soon, and Jack Leiter is on the verge of going on a rehab assignment, so expect the Rangers' bullpen carousel to keep spinning.

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