Rangers sign free agent RHP Chris Martin to two-year contract

The Texas Rangers today announced the signing of free agent right-handed pitcher Chris Martin to a two-year contract covering the 2018 and 2019 seasons. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The 31-year-old returns to the United States after pitching the past two seasons for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). Martin produced the lowest ERA (1.12) and opponents batting average (.154), fewest baserunners per 9 innings (6.11), and 2nd-lowest strikeout-to-walk ratio (7.00) among all NPB relievers with at least 90 appearances in 2016-17. A graduate of Arlington High School, located approximately 4 miles from Globe Life Park, he went 0-2 with one save and a 1.19 ERA (11 ER/88.1 IP) spanning 40 appearances for the Fighters in 2017. Martin's 21 saves in 2016 ranked tied for 5th in the Pacific League.
The 6-foot-8 right-hander saw major league action with the Rockies (2014) and Yankees (2015) before signing in Japan, combining to go 0-2 with a 6.19 ERA (25 ER/36.1 IP) over 40 relief appearances. His last big league outing came on October 3, 2015 at Baltimore, and he faced the Rangers twice in 2014, including his lone appearance at Globe Life Park on May 7, 2014.
Martin was twice selected in MLB's June draft by Detroit (18th round in 2004) and Colorado (21st round in 2005), but did not sign either time and was eventually signed by Boston after pitching for the Grand Prairie AirHogs in the independent American Association in 2010. He pitched at McLennan Community College in Waco, Texas, but left the game for a few years after suffering a shoulder injury in 2006.
With the signing of Martin, the Rangers now have 39 players on the club's major league roster.