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The Cubs have reportedly signed right-handed relief pitcher Chris Martin to a one-year contract according to MLB.com’s Jon Morosi.
Source: Chris Martin, #Cubs in agreement on 1-year contract. @MLB @MLBNetwork @670TheScore
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) March 15, 2022
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.
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Can confirm Cubs have an agreement with FA righty Chris Martin on 1-year, $2.5M deal (plus incentives). @jonmorosi first.
Martin, 35, had 3.95 ERA in 46 games for ATL last year. Averaged 94+ with 4-seam and sinker. Also had 2.08 ERA in 5 playoff games en route to a WS ring.
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) March 15, 2022
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.
Chris Martin dramatically increased his 4S FB (.349 wOBA, .315 xwOBA) and dec his sinker usage in 21, but surprisingly his sinker was a better pitch (.176 wOBA, .214 xwOBA). I wonder if we see the Cubs push Martin to throw more elevated sinkers. Sinker heat map from Savant ⬇️ https://t.co/umjg5JEn47 pic.twitter.com/W2E3sY12qD
— Greg Zumach (@IvyFutures) March 15, 2022
So, two former Braves relievers from the 2021 World Series team. Cubs do need some pop in their lineup. Jorge Soler next?
First Jesse Chavez and now Chris Martin.
Cubs gonna sign Jorge Soler next?https://t.co/FNqzIXcomN pic.twitter.com/XY9eJxzb1V— Aldo Soto (@AldoSoto21) March 15, 2022
