SURPRISE, Ariz. – Chris Martin made the mistake once of calling a season a swan song. He’s not about to do it again.
“I guess I like this game more than I thought,” he said with a laugh Thursday at Rangers spring training camp. “I’m not going to put my foot in my mouth again.”
Although it might actually leave a better taste than the 2026 season did.
Part of why Martin, an Arlington native who still lives near Wichita Falls, is back for at least one more go is to wash that taste out of his mouth. It’s heartburn that comes along with three different stints on the IL due to shoulder, calf and Thoracic Outlet Syndrome issues.
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The injuries cost Martin eight weeks of playing time and forced the Rangers to carefully monitor his workload. It limited Martin, who will turn 40 in June, to just 42 innings. When he was healthy, he was the Rangers’ best option to close games, but he was rarely available to pitch on back-to-back days, which is kind of a key element of being a closer.
Texas Rangers pitcher Chris Martin yells as he leaves the game during the eighth inning against the Houston Astros at Globe Life Field on Sunday, May 18, 2025.
Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer
When he did pitch, though, he was still quite effective, compiling a 2.98 ERA and a strikeout-to-walk rate of better than 5-to-1. He held hitters to a .299 OBP and a .390 slug, which was inflated to that level only because of three homers in a five-inning span when dealing with the calf.
So when the Rangers started seeking potential low-cost options for the back of the bullpen, Martin was one of the first calls they made. Turns out, he’d just started throwing again in late November, a bit later than usual, trying to determine if he wanted to pitch or not. When the Rangers offered the opportunity for just $2 million up front with another $2 million in deferred money, something clicked.
“It kind of lit my fire,” he said. “I was surprised they called, to be honest, just because of how the year went, being banged up and all. So, it was like, all right, well, see if something comes out of this.”
What has come out of it is another chance to potentially close. Manager Skip Schumaker said that Martin and Robert Garcia will primarily get the closing looks early in spring training. The competition could include a number of other relievers, too, depending on how Alexis Diaz, who has the most closing experience on the roster but is coming off two poor years, and Jacob Latz, who is currently contending for a spot in the rotation.
And maybe when it’s done, he’ll say it is over and ride off into the sunset. But not before.
Spring training smiles: See photos from Texas Rangers’ camp in Surprise
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