How A's bullpen looks after adding an arm

This story was excerpted from Martín Gallegos’ A’s Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

An Athletics bullpen that emerged as a strength in 2024 received an upgrade on Friday with the addition of right-hander José Leclerc, an eight-year veteran with postseason experience who carries a career 3.27 ERA in 360 1/3 innings, with 473 strikeouts.

With Leclerc in the fold and a bullpen that combined for a 3.83 ERA in ’24 -- 13th-lowest in the Majors -- mostly intact, the A’s are hoping to see continued success from that relief corps for a 2025 season in which they aim to contend for the playoffs.

With less than a month before the A’s arrive in Mesa, Ariz., for Spring Training, here’s a closer look at that bullpen picture:

RHP Mason Miller
The transition from starter to reliever could not have gone much better for Miller, who in his first full season in the Majors set an A’s rookie record with 28 saves and earned an All-Star selection, along with a spot on the All-MLB Second Team. He will enter 2025 entrenched as the team’s closer.

RHP José Leclerc
After playing a key role in the Rangers’ bullpen during their 2023 World Series title run, Leclerc experienced a bit of a down year in 2024. He made 64 relief appearances and went 6-5 with a 4.32 ERA, 89 strikeouts and 32 walks in 66 2/3 innings. His 3.48 FIP, however, suggests he pitched better than the overall numbers indicate. He likely will slot into a high-leverage role with plenty of late-inning opportunities.

LHP T.J. McFarland
McFarland turned in one of the better campaigns of his career in 2024, leading the Majors with a career-high 79 games pitched while compiling a 3.81 ERA. He held opponents to a .252 batting average and .683 OPS. McFarland allowed 15 of 66 inherited runners allowed to score, a 22.7% rate that was the seventh-best in the Majors. His ground-ball rate of 59.4% ranked in the 97th percentile among qualified Major Leaguers.

RHP Tyler Ferguson
A Minor Leaguer for nine seasons, Ferguson developed into one of the feel-good stories of 2024. Not only did he receive his first call to the Majors at age 30, but he also performed well by logging a 3.68 ERA across 48 appearances. Ferguson even earned some save opportunities while Miller spent time on the injured list, and he will continue to be a high-leverage option.

RHP Michel Ota?ez
Similar to Ferguson, Ota?ez was a career Minor Leaguer who got his first big league shot with the A’s last season and took full advantage. The 27-year-old worked his way up to a high-leverage role and finished with a 3.44 ERA across 36 appearances and 55 strikeouts in 34 innings.

RHP Grant Holman
The 24-year-old former Little League World Series star debuted in August after a dominant run through Double-A and Triple-A. He encountered some adversity in the Majors but showed promise over his 18 relief outings by posting a 4.02 ERA with 16 strikeouts in 15 2/3 innings

RHP Noah Murdock
Listed at 6-foot-8, the 26-year-old Murdock -- whom the A’s selected fourth overall this winter in the Rule 5 Draft -- is a ground-ball-heavy pitcher who combined for a 3.16 ERA in 46 relief appearances last year in the Royals’ organization between Double-A Northwest Arkansas and Triple-A Omaha. He had 72 strikeouts and 41 walks across 62 2/3 innings. Given that he is a Rule 5 pick, Murdock will get a chance to stick in the A’s bullpen.

LHP Hogan Harris
After struggling to a 7.14 ERA as a rookie in 2023, Harris found much more success in a swingman role for the A’s last season. He combined for a 2.86 ERA in 21 games (nine starts) with 61 strikeouts across 72 1/3 innings. Harris makes sense as the second lefty in the A’s bullpen, though he is also an option to provide starting depth in the Minors.

Other relief candidates: RHP Mitch Spence, RHP J.T. Ginn, LHP Jacob Lopez, RHP Ryan Cusick, RHP Anthony Maldonado, RHP Justin Sterner
Spence and Ginn will both be in the mix this spring for one, maybe two rotation slots. Although both have experience pitching out of the bullpen, they also could provide Minor League depth as starters. Lopez, acquired from the Rays along with Jeffrey Springs, can is also expected to be in the rotation mix. Cusick, a former top prospect for the A’s, found success after shifting to the bullpen in the Minors last season. Maldonado and Sterner were waiver claims who will get strong looks in camp.