The Athletics remain busy this offseason.
Hours after revealing two new jersey patches for the 2025 MLB season on Friday, the Athletics officially announced the signing of right-handed reliever José Leclerc. ESPN’s Jeff Passan first reported the deal to be worth $10 million.
To make room on the 40-man roster, right-handed pitcher Will Klein was designated for assignment.
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Leclerc will call Sutter Health Park home after spending his entire nine-year MLB career with the Texas Rangers. He exits the Lone Star State with a 12-20 record, 3.27 ERA, 473 strikeouts and 41 saves over 360 1/3 innings.
Leclerc appears to be the Athletics’ replacement for Lucas Erceg, who was star closer Mason Miller’s trustworthy set-up man before being traded to the Kansas City Royals before the 2024 MLB trade deadline. Fourth-year Athletics manager Mark Kotsay likely will have the option to deploy Leclerc for multi-inning shifts, given the 31-year-old pitched more than one inning in 26.6 percent (17 of 64) games last season.
Last season wasn’t Leclerc’s best. After carrying a sub-3.0 ERA through the 2022 and 2023 campaigns, Leclerc posted a 4.32 ERA and allowed a career-worst 56 hits over 66 2/3 frames.
But, the numbers prove he still has plenty left in the tank.
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Leclerc posted a healthy 3.48 FIP in 2024 -- which was better than his 3.62 from his Rangers’ 2023 World Series run -- and was in the 96th percentile for both his 36.0-percent whiff rate and his 30.7-percent hard-hit rate. Leclerc’s six-pitch arsenal, headlined by his four-seamer and cutter, remains effective overall and potentially could be bettered under a new set of eyes.
The Athletics have been active in the offseason after their emotional divorce from Oakland and fourth-straight playoff-less year. And adding Leclerc seems like another promising chess move on the surface.
General manager David Forst and the Athletics also have acquired ace Luis Severino, two-way Japanese prospect Shotaro Morii, pitcher Jeffrey Springs, third baseman Gio Urshela and retained star designated hitter/outfielder Brent Rooker with a massive contract extension.