The Cubs have reportedly signed right-handed relief pitcher Chris Martin to a one-year contract according to MLB.com's Jon Morosi.
The 35-year-old pitched for the Braves in 2021, appearing in 47 games during the regular season for the World Series winners. Martin recorded a 3.95 ERA and 1.27 WHIP, while striking out 33 and walking six batters in 43.1 innings. Martin made five postseason appearances out of Atlanta's bullpen and allowed one earned run in 4.1 innings. Cubs will pay Martin a base salary of $2.5 million.
Martin first broke into the majors with the Rockies in 2014 and in six MLB seasons the righty has posted a career 4.06 ERA in 195 innings. He pitched for the Yankees in 2015 and then spent two years playing in Japan before returning to MLB to pitch for the Rangers in 2018. Martin's best season (besides 2020 when he had a 1.01 ERA in 19 games) was in 2019, when he had a 3.08 ERA in 38 innings for the Rangers. The Cubs have now added two relievers from Atlanta's 2021 bullpen as Martin joins fellow righty Jesse Chavez, who agreed to a split-deal with Chicago this past weekend. While these types of signings aren't the most exciting things in the world for Cubs fans to talk about no one can argue that for the most part the team has been able to gather a solid bullpen year after year. Sure there have been some struggles, especially early in seasons (2019 was a disaster with no true closer until Kimbrel) but the Cubs just seem to patch things up and get the most from the guys they bring in. While Martin hasn't been an elite reliever, he's still a solid guy that can be useful for the Cubs. He's fine. Nothing more, nothing less and there's always a chance the Cubs can tweak a thing or two to get more success from Martin.
So, two former Braves relievers from the 2021 World Series team. Cubs do need some pop in their lineup. Jorge Soler next?
