From an Appliance Warehouse to a World Series Ring: Reliever Chris Martin Retires at 40

Chris Martin's baseball career very nearly ended before it began. Instead, the 6-foot-7 right-hander from Arlington, Texas, walks away at 40 with a World Series ring, 434 big-league appearances and the kind of story every kid who has ever been told no should hear.

Martin has retired from Major League Baseball, Robert Murray of FanSided reported Wednesday ^[3]. He finishes with a 3.53 career ERA and 16 saves over 11 seasons with the Rockies, Yankees, Rangers, Braves, Cubs, Dodgers and Red Sox ^[2][3], with two productive seasons in Japan in between ^[1].

The Detour

The Detroit Tigers drafted Martin in the 18th round out of high school in 2004, but he chose McLennan Community College in Waco instead, and the Colorado Rockies took him in the 21st round in 2005 ^[3]. Then he tore the labrum in his shoulder during his sophomore season, and the Rockies' interest faded ^[3].

What followed was roughly five years away from the game. Martin worked regular jobs, including stints at UPS, Lowe's and a Texas appliance warehouse, On SI reported ^[3]. In 2010 he went to an open tryout for the independent Grand Prairie AirHogs of the American Association and signed his first professional contract ^[3]. The Boston Red Sox signed him out of that league in 2011 ^[2], and he spent 2011 through 2013 in their minor-league system, reaching Triple-A ^[4].

The Long Way Up

Martin finally reached the majors in 2014 at age 27 with Colorado, pitching in 16 games, then was traded to the New York Yankees before 2015 and released after that season ^[1]. He went to Japan, where he made 92 appearances for the Nippon-Ham Fighters in 2016 and 2017 with ERAs of 1.07 and 1.19 ^[1].

That trip overseas changed everything. He signed with the Texas Rangers before the 2018 season ^[1], and Texas traded him to Atlanta in July 2019 for left-hander Kolby Allard ^[5]. With the Braves he posted a 1.00 ERA over 19 games in 2020 ^[5], and in 2021 he was part of the club that beat the Houston Astros for the championship ^[5]. He made five appearances that postseason, allowing one run in 4 1/3 innings ^[1], including two scoreless outings in the six-game World Series ^[2].

The Dodgers acquired him from the Cubs in July 2022 for Zach McKinstry, and he was close to untouchable in Los Angeles, striking out 34 and walking one with a 1.46 ERA over 26 games, then earning a save in Game 1 of the NLDS against San Diego ^[3]. Boston gave him a two-year, $17.5 million contract ^[3], and in 2023 he posted a 1.05 ERA over 55 games, good enough for a down-ballot Cy Young vote ^[2][3]. He followed with a 3.45 ERA and a 50-to-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 2024 ^[4].

The Last Chapter at Home

Martin finished in his hometown. He put up a 2.98 ERA in 49 games for the Rangers in 2025 ^[1], but 2026 was rough: a 9.00 ERA in 16 appearances before Texas released him in August ^[1][3]. Boston had shown interest in bringing him back the previous offseason, but a deal never came together, On SI noted ^[4].

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Over his career he was traded four times, the last two as a deadline pickup for contenders, and he rarely closed ^[2]. He pitched in the postseason for Atlanta in 2019, 2020 and 2021 and for the Dodgers in 2022 ^[1][2]. He was the reliever a manager trusted with a one-run lead in the seventh, not the one whose name went on the marquee.

The Take: Clock In, Throw Strikes, Get Your Ring

I love this one. Baseball usually sells us the story of first-round bonus babies and can't-miss prospects. Martin's story belongs to the other America: a big kid from Texas who got hurt, went to work at UPS, Lowe's and a warehouse, and never let go of the dream. Nobody handed him anything. He earned his way back at an open tryout and then spent a decade pounding the strike zone.

Look at his control in his best years: one walk in 26 games for the Dodgers, three walks in 44 1/3 innings for Boston ^[3][4]. That's a pitcher who refused to beat himself, and that's a lesson for any young man in any line of work. Show up, do the job, don't give the other side anything for free.

He won't go to Cooperstown. He doesn't need to. He leaves with a championship, the respect of seven clubhouses and a second-chance story that belongs on every Little League bulletin board in America.

What Comes Next

Martin's exit comes in the heart of baseball's offseason, with free agency under way and teams reshaping their bullpens. For the reliever who once stocked shelves while waiting for a second chance, the next chapter is his to write.