Athletics agree to terms with right-handed pitcher José Leclerc, one-year $10M

The Athletics have agreed to terms with right-handed reliever Jose Leclerc on a one-year $10-million deal.

Jan 17, 2025, 2:45 PM

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The Athletics have agreed to terms with right-handed reliever Jose Leclerc, the team announced Friday. It’s their second offseason addition that aims to aid their pitching after signing starter Luis Severino in early December.

To clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Jose Leclerc, the A’s designated right-handed pitcher Will Klein for assignment.

According to ESPN‘s Jeff Passan, it is a one-year deal worth $ 10 million.

Right-handed reliever José Leclerc and the Athletics are in agreement on a one-year, $10 million contract, sources tell ESPN. First with the agreement was @ByRobertMurray.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 17, 2025

Athletics Press Release on Jose Leclerc

Leclerc was 6-5 with a save, a 4.32 ERA and .671 opponents OPS in 64 relief appearances with Texas last year. He struck out 89 batters in 66.2 innings (12.02 per nine innings) and tied for 14th in the majors among relievers in strikeouts. The 31-year-old right-hander had a career high in wins, and his games pitched, innings pitched and strikeouts were the second most of his career and his most since 2019. Leclerc held the opposition to a .227 batting average, including .193 against right-handed hitters, but walked 32 for a .323 on-base percentage.

Leclerc has pitched eight seasons in the majors, all with Texas, and is 12-20 with 41 saves and a 3.27 ERA in 350 career appearances. He has 473 strikeouts in 360.1 innings (11.81 per nine innings) and is the Rangers/Senators franchise record holder for most strikeouts by a reliever. Originally signed by Texas out of the Dominican Republic in 2010 at the age of 16, Leclerc made his Major League debut in 2016. He logged a 1.56 ERA and 12 saves in 59 relief appearances in 2018 and had 14 saves and 100 strikeouts in 68.2 innings over 70 relief appearances in 2019. Leclerc missed nearly the entire 2020 season with a torn right teres major muscle and was out for the entire 2021 season following “Tommy John” surgery. He has pitched in 160 games in three seasons since the surgery and has a 3.36 ERA, .629 opponents OPS and 210 strikeouts in 171.1 innings since his return.

More A’s coverage from Sactown Sports

Set to play their first season in California’s capital, the A’s have announced two new jersey patches they will wear for the upcoming 2025 season. One will represent their new (temporary) home in Sacramento, and another will honor the late, great Rickey Henderson.

The following is from the A’s Press Release:

Sacramento Jersey Patch

To commemorate the club’s inaugural season in our state’s capital region, the A’s will wear a newly designed sleeve patch featuring a depiction of the iconic Tower Bridge, which is located behind the ballpark in right field, as well as the word “Sacramento” in script, all in the team’s classic green and gold color scheme.

Rickey Henderson Jersey Patch

Raised in Oakland and drafted by the A’s, Rickey Henderson went on to become the greatest player in franchise history and one of the greatest leadoff hitters of all time. He played 14 of his 25 seasons in an A’s uniform and is baseball’s all-time leader in stolen bases (1,406) and runs scored (2,295). Henderson was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009 and had his number 24 retired by the A’s that year. To honor the greatest A’s player of all time, the team will wear a patch bearing Rickey’s iconic number 24 for the duration of the 2025 season.

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