Boston Red Sox Add Right-Handed Reliever with a "Deadly Sweeper" Profile
The Boston Red Sox have made a low-key signing move that could bolster their pitching staff for the 2026 season. According to reports, the team has agreed to a contract with right-hander Seth Martinez, who has notched 144 major league innings over four seasons.
Martinez, 31, has a unique profile that caught the attention of the Red Sox. He boasts an unusual "deadly sweeper" pitch, which refers to his ability to throw pitches outside the strike zone at high speeds and with precise control. This skillset is rare among relief pitchers, making Martinez a valuable addition to the Red Sox bullpen.
Martinez's statistics demonstrate his effectiveness as a reliever. In 2025, he posted a solid 2.09 ERA in 38 2/3 innings across 29 games. His zone-contact rate, or zCon, was an impressive 78 percent at the Triple-A level last season, sitting in the 88th percentile among qualified minor league arms.
The Red Sox have been actively shopping their young pitching staff, including fifth-year starter Brayan Bello, who may be on the trade block. The team's search for a legitimate No. 2 starter behind Garrett Crochet continues, and Martinez's signing provides some much-needed depth to the bullpen.
With the addition of Martinez, the Red Sox now have a right-handed reliever in their bullpen, except for closer Aroldis Chapman. This move could be just the beginning of a busy offseason for the team as they look to strengthen their pitching staff.
The Boston Red Sox have made a low-key signing move that could bolster their pitching staff for the 2026 season. According to reports, the team has agreed to a contract with right-hander Seth Martinez, who has notched 144 major league innings over four seasons.
Martinez, 31, has a unique profile that caught the attention of the Red Sox. He boasts an unusual "deadly sweeper" pitch, which refers to his ability to throw pitches outside the strike zone at high speeds and with precise control. This skillset is rare among relief pitchers, making Martinez a valuable addition to the Red Sox bullpen.
Martinez's statistics demonstrate his effectiveness as a reliever. In 2025, he posted a solid 2.09 ERA in 38 2/3 innings across 29 games. His zone-contact rate, or zCon, was an impressive 78 percent at the Triple-A level last season, sitting in the 88th percentile among qualified minor league arms.
The Red Sox have been actively shopping their young pitching staff, including fifth-year starter Brayan Bello, who may be on the trade block. The team's search for a legitimate No. 2 starter behind Garrett Crochet continues, and Martinez's signing provides some much-needed depth to the bullpen.
With the addition of Martinez, the Red Sox now have a right-handed reliever in their bullpen, except for closer Aroldis Chapman. This move could be just the beginning of a busy offseason for the team as they look to strengthen their pitching staff.
. Martinez is just another name on a contract that's gonna disappear in April when he can't hack it against MLB hitters 
. And what's with the "deadly sweeper" pitch? Sounds like a marketing gimmick to me 
. They're really throwing good money after bad, hoping someone finally cracks under the pressure 
...
! Seth Martinez sounds like a game-changer for the Red Sox bullpen 
#RedSox #SethMartinez #BullpenBoost. his "deadly sweeper" pitch is straight fire 
and i love how they're adding depth to their pitching staff 
. 2.09 ERA in 38 3/4 innings? that's impressive 
! now let's see if they can keep him happy & healthy all season long 
#HealthyPitcher #RedSoxNation #MLB.
. Now the Red Sox have some serious firepower in their bullpen and I'm loving it 
. Can you imagine how tough opposing teams will find it to face this guy on the mound? Bring on the playoffs!
can't wait to see him in action at Fenway this season 
Red Sox are gonna be SO OP in 2026 
his "deadly sweeper" pitch is straight fire 
the Red Sox are definitely getting a boost to their bullpen with this signing. hope they can keep Bello out of the trade block, we need more talent behind Crochet 
Seth Martinez is like a puzzle piece that the Red Sox needed and he's gonna bring some serious heat to that bullpen 
! I mean, who wouldn't want a reliever with a "deadly sweeper" profile? It's like having a superpower on the mound 
. And the fact that they got him on a low-key move is genius 
. The team needs someone with depth and Martinez seems to be just what they're looking for. I'm loving this addition, can't wait to see how it all plays out this season 
!
. He's not a traditional reliever, but his skills are so unique it makes him valuable 
. Now if only the Sox can find that No. 2 starter... 
. I love how he can throw those high-speed pitches outside the zone, it's like a magic trick 
️! His stats look insane too, 2.09 ERA is no joke 
. And can we talk about how underrated Martinez was? 144 innings and a 2.09 ERA in 38 1/3 IP is insane! He's definitely one of the best relievers out there, and I'm so excited to see what he brings to the Red Sox 
. His "deadly sweeper" pitch is insane 
! Can't wait to see what other surprises they have in store for us 
That guy's got skills. I think he'll be a great addition to the Red Sox bullpen, especially if they're trying to round out their pitching staff. It's like, we need that one guy who can just shut it down when we need him to 
. Now, with Martinez on board, maybe we'll finally see Brayan Bello get some serious trade attention... I hope they don't ship him out! 
... seriously, can't we just have someone who throws strikes already? Martinez's stats are okay, I guess, but what's the point of having a reliever if they're gonna throw like 10 pitches outside the zone all the time? And why do teams always try to package their good players with their bad ones 
... Brayan Bello and Chapman might be worth something, so why waste him?
, he looked so focused and intense on the mound! The "deadly sweeper" thing sounds crazy, but if he can bring that skillset to the Red Sox, it's gonna be huge for their bullpen. I'm curious to see how Brayan Bello will do in a trade... hope Boston finds someone who wants him 
. but seriously, this adds so much depth to their bullpen and now they're one step closer to finding that No. 2 starter... fingers crossed it's a busy offseason for them