Right-Handed Reliever Jose Leclerc Leaves One Seattle Mariners Rival For Another
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The Seattle Mariners have only just recently started picking up steam on transactions in the offseason.
The Mariners added their first every-day or starting-caliber player for 2025 after signing 13-year infielder Donovan Solano to a one-year, $3.5 million deal on Jan. 13. That moved kicked off a series of trades, DFA's (designated for assignment) and outrights to Triple-A.
But even before Seattle started to get active, the American League West was a division that made moves frequently throughout the offseason.
Recently, one of the Mariners' division rivals improved its bullpen at the expense of another AL West team's.
The Athletics signed reliever Jose Leclerc to a one-year, $10 million contract on Jan. 17. Leclerc's move to Sacramento comes after a nine-year stint with the Texas Rangers.
Jose Leclerc to A’s. $10M. @ByRobertMurray 1st
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 17, 2025
Leclerc gives the A's a back-end reliever and puts them closer to the $105 million roster payroll mark that will help the organization avoid a grievance being filed by the MLB Players' Association.
Leclerc made 64 appearances for the Rangers in 2024. He registered a 4.32 ERA with 89 strikeouts in 66.2 innings pitched. Leclerc put up a sub-3.00 ERA the two seasons prior to last year. He's accomplished that feat in four-of-nine major league seasons. He's had 25 combined holds and 12 combined saves the last three years.
José Leclerc, Huge K. pic.twitter.com/ucuDaEZVTI
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) October 23, 2023
Leclerc gives the Athletics solid depth in the back-end of the bullpen. He has the potential to step into the closer role if need be. But he'll likely be used as a high-leverage seventh or eighth inning reliever.
It's not ideal for Seattle that Leclerc is remaining in the AL West. But a glass-half-full point of view is that the Mariners won't face him against a much-removed Texas team that's two years removed from a World Series title.
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