Martin leverages role as set-up man

Chris Martin knows high-leverage relievers are valuable assets at the trade deadline. The 37-year-old righthander has been dealt on July 30 twice in the last five years, so he knows it comes with the territory.

“If they felt like they could get something out of me and trade me and it would benefit the team, that’s fine,” Martin said. “It’s kind of what I’ve signed up for.”

With a 5-year-old, 3-year-old, and 8-month-old at home, sticking with the Red Sox was ideal. The family loves living just outside of Boston, and it’s a bit cooler in the summer than in his home state of Texas.

Martin, who went undrafted in 2006 and spent several years away from the game after struggling with shoulder injuries, was signed by the Red Sox out of the independent league in 2011. He’s played for seven organizations over his major league career, not including a two-year stint in Japan, where Shohei Ohtani helped him develop a splitter.

The Sox would have demanded a hefty return for him this year.

Since returning on May 1 from a 15-day stint on the injured list, Martin had posted a 1.19 ERA and given up just one home run — holding opposing batters to a slash line of .207/ .248/.261 — pitching a scoreless eighth inning Thursday night before handing it over to All-Star closer Kenley Jansen, who got his 26th save in a 2-0 victory over the Royals.

“The whole season he’s been holding it up, man,” said Jansen. “That’s just motivation, when you see a story like [Martin’s].”

Martin has allowed just one run in his last 23 outings, and his 0.46 ERA over the previous 22 is second-best in the majors during that span.

Martin pitched well during the back half of the season for the Dodgers after being dealt by the Cubs, posting a 1.46 ERA in 26 appearances. He then signed a two-year, $17.5 million contract with the Sox during the offseason.

“I think mentally I’m in a better place this year than I was last year,” he said.

Over the course of his career, Martin said he’s become better about going into the training room, which has helped him stay healthy and establish a consistent routine. He also credited an open line of communication with manager Alex Cora for keeping him fresh.

Martin may be 6 feet 8 inches, but he doesn’t overpower hitters, recording only 34 strikeouts in 38‚ innings. Instead, he keeps opposing hitters off balance with a six-pitch mix that leans on his cutter, four-seam fastball, and changeup.

Martin has been one of the best in the big leagues at generating weak contact. Entering Thursday, the average exit velocity of balls put in play against him was 83.7 miles per hour, per MLB Statcast, which ranks in the top percentile in the majors.

If the Red Sox, who are four games out of the third wild-card spot, miss the postseason, it won’t because they lacked an elite late-inning combo in Martin and Jansen. Boston (60-55) may be five games above .500, but the Red Sox are 31-10 when Martin pitches.

Martin said having Jansen available to lock it down in the ninth inning has allowed him to settle into his role as the set-up man. Boston is 21-6 when Martin throws in the eighth, with the bulk of those appearances coming with the Red Sox tied or ahead by two runs or less.

The team’s decision to keep intact their 1-2 punch of Martin and Jansen paid dividends Thursday night when Martin retired the side in the eighth before Jansen clinched the muchneeded series win.

“That’s what we envisioned in the offseason, and it has worked out,” Cora said.