Jose Leclerc contract with Athletics

The Athletics agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher José Leclerc on a one-year contract for the 2025 season, the club announced on Friday. To clear a spot on the 40-man roster, the A’s designated right-handed pitcher Will Klein for assignment. Though the team did not disclose financial terms, the deal is worth $10 million, a source told MLB.com’s Martin Gallegos.

A longtime Ranger, Leclerc debuted in 2016 when Texas won the AL West and was on the team that won the club’s first World Series in 2023. After posting a 2.68 ERA and striking out 67 batters in 57 innings in the Rangers’ title season, Leclerc saw his ERA jump to 4.32 in 66 2/3 innings last year.

That ERA, however, might be misleading, as Leclerc’s overall profile didn’t noticeably change. He had a slight uptick in strikeouts and a decrease in both walks and barrels, which is why his 3.57 expected ERA paints his season in a more positive light.

The right-hander mainly relies on four pitches — a four-seamer, slider, cutter and changeup — all of which generate plenty of whiffs. Leclerc ranked in the 96th percentile in whiff rate in each of the past two seasons, with most of his swings and misses coming on a nasty slider that produced an elite 47.2 percent whiff rate.

Because he debuted at 22 years old, Leclerc will be entering his age-31 season next year and should have plenty left in the tank. All of his underlying numbers point to a reliable arm in the back end of a bullpen.