A's add free-agent reliever Leclerc on one-year deal

After the Athletics addressed rotation and third-base needs earlier this offseason, bullpen help was seemingly the final item on their wish list.

Looking to bolster the back end of their bullpen, the A’s agreed on Friday to a one-year contract with right-hander José Leclerc. The deal is worth $10 million, a source told MLB.com. To clear a spot on the 40-man roster, right-hander Will Klein was designated for assignment.

Leclerc was signed by the Rangers as an international free agent in 2010 and spent his entire professional career with the organization to this point. Across eight Major League seasons, the 31-year-old has a 3.27 ERA with 473 strikeouts in 360 1/3 innings. He served a number of late-inning roles during his time with the Rangers -- notching 41 career saves -- and was a key piece of their 2023 World Series title run by posting a 3.29 ERA over 13 relief outings, with four saves and a win. His 13 postseason outings that year tied for the third-highest total in a single postseason.

Coming off that championship, 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. Still, his 3.48 FIP suggests he pitched a bit better than the overall numbers might indicate.

Aside from high strikeout totals, Leclerc’s standout trait over the years has been his ability to avoid hard contact. His 30.7 percent hard-hit rate last season ranked in the 96th percentile of qualified Major League pitchers. Maintaining that attribute would come in handy for an A’s club that is about to move away from the pitcher-friendly Oakland Coliseum into the more hitter-friendly Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento.

As far as his arsenal, Leclerc’s five-pitch mix is headlined by a fastball that sits at around 95-96 mph and a slider that held opposing batters to a .221 average and produced a 45.7 percent whiff rate in 2024. He also throws a cutter, sinker and changeup.

With the A’s, Leclerc will likely slot into a high-leverage role with a chance to serve as one of the primary setup options for All-Star closer Mason Miller. LeClerc also went more than one inning in 17 of his 64 outings last season, which could also make him a multi-inning option.