Chris Martin’s Ill-Timed Injury Likely Ends Trade Hopes for Rangers Reliever
So here’s a bit of breaking news that’s definitely going to change some midseason trade conversations in Major League Baseball—Chris Martin, former Red Sox standout and current Texas Rangers reliever, has been placed on the 15-day injured list. The timing? Absolutely brutal, both for Martin and for the Rangers, who might have been looking to shop him ahead of the trade deadline.
Martin, now 39 years old, was having a solid season that made him an intriguing midseason trade candidate. After signing a one-year, $5.5 million deal with Texas, he remained one of the more under-the-radar, effective bullpen arms in the league. His numbers have been quietly impressive—he posted a 2.36 ERA through 39 appearances this year and boasted an incredible 8.54 strikeout-to-walk ratio since 2021. That’s actually the best among all qualified relievers. Yes, even better than Liam Hendriks.
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Last season, Martin was borderline elite with Boston, even getting a Cy Young vote thanks to a microscopic 1.05 ERA. His command and consistency were a big reason the Red Sox bullpen stabilized during an otherwise up-and-down season. Fast forward to this year, and while his ERA has ticked up, the peripherals still show he’s got the goods.
But unfortunately for the Rangers, Martin strained his left calf and is now expected to miss four to six weeks. That essentially sidelines him until well after the July 31st trade deadline. It’s the second time he’s landed on the IL this season—he also missed time earlier with shoulder fatigue. And just before this latest injury, he gave up the go-ahead run in a close 2-1 loss to the Tigers. Talk about rough timing.
It’s worth noting that ESPN’s Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel had Martin ranked 38th among MLB’s top trade candidates—so he was absolutely on the radar. Teams looking for a reliable veteran arm now have to pivot elsewhere, and Martin misses out on another potential postseason run with a contender. He’s already been part of multiple midseason moves in his career, like when the Cubs sent him to the Dodgers a few years back, but this time, he might be staying put in Texas through the rest of the season.
This kind of setback underscores how quickly things can shift in the lead-up to the trade deadline. One moment you’re a valuable chip, the next you’re on the shelf. Here’s hoping Martin recovers quickly, whether to contribute again this season or to tee up one last run in 2026.
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