Athletics Agree to Terms with RHP José Leclerc on One-Year Contract

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Athletics agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher José Leclerc on a one-year contract for the 2025 season, the club announced today. To clear a spot on the 40-man roster, the A’s designated right-handed pitcher Will Klein for assignment.

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.

Klein was one of three players acquired from Kansas City in the Lucas Erceg trade on July 30, 2024. He made his Major League debut last year, pitching in five games for the Royals and three for the A’s. The 25-year-old right-hander combined for an 11.05 ERA and .990 opponents OPS in eight games overall. Klein spent the balance of the season at the Triple-A level and was a combined 2-2 with a minor league career-high nine saves, a 3.77 ERA and .645 opponents OPS in 38 relief appearances with Omaha (34 games) and Las Vegas (four games).