Rangers Trade for Adam Macko
The Texas Rangers have designated veteran relief pitcher Chris Martin for assignment after he suffered another right shoulder injury. It was the third time this season that Martin was placed on the injured list, bringing an uncertain future to his time with the team.
Before the Major League Baseball trade deadline, the Rangers also made a player trade with the Toronto Blue Jays. Texas received 25-year-old left-handed pitcher Adam Macko in exchange for utility player Josh Smith and minor league pitcher Josh Stephan.
Adam Macko made his Major League debut in May and appeared in 22 games for the Blue Jays. He finished with two wins and a 4.91 ERA. Earlier this season, both Macko and Josh Smith had spent time playing for their teams’ Triple-A clubs before returning to the major leagues.
Chris Martin, who turned 40 earlier this year, had a difficult season. He played in only 16 games and recorded a 9.00 ERA over 14 innings. During that time, he allowed 25 hits and 14 earned runs. Because of his shoulder problems, he missed a total of 75 games this season.
Martin, who is from Arlington, Texas, first played for the Rangers in 2018 and 2019. He returned to the team last season and performed well, finishing with a 2.98 ERA in 49 relief appearances. However, injuries limited his chances to repeat that success this year.
During his 11-year Major League career, Martin has appeared in 434 games for seven different teams. He has a career 3.53 ERA and a 19-25 win-loss record. He has played more games for the Rangers than for any other team, making 149 appearances. He also spent two successful seasons with the Boston Red Sox in 2023 and 2024, pitching in 100 games.
Josh Smith, who won the Silver Slugger Award as the best utility player in 2024, had a strong season last year. He batted .258 with 13 home runs and 62 RBIs. This season, however, he struggled with injuries and managed a .213 batting average with one home run and eight RBIs in 45 games. Earlier this month, he was sent back to Triple-A Round Rock after shortstop Corey Seager returned from the injured list.
The Rangers hope that Adam Macko will strengthen their pitching staff for the rest of the season, while Chris Martin’s future in Major League Baseball remains uncertain after another injury-filled year.