Jose

Leclerc

Leclerc will be rehabbing through the end of the regular season and will most likely open next year with a trip to the injured list. He’s been out since late April when he suffered a lat strain.

LeClerc has been shelved since April 23 due to a lat strain. He’ll now miss the remainder of the season before hitting the open market over the winter. He finishes his tenure with the Athletics with a 6.00 ERA, 2.00 WHIP and an 8/5 K/BB ratio over nine innings of work.

Leclerc won’t be eligible to rejoin the Athletics’ relief mix until late June. The 31-year-old righty hit the shelf back on April 23 with a lat strain. The procedural move frees up a spot on the Athletics’ 40-man roster.

Leclerc hits the injured list following an early exit from Tuesday’s relief appearance against the Rangers with right shoulder soreness. No word yet on the severity of the issue, but he’s likely to miss at least a couple weeks, even if it’s on the mild end of the spectrum.

An IL stint is likely looming here. That would probably result in a promotion for Grant Holman, who should have been in the A’s bullpen all along anyway.

Robert Murray of Fansided was the first to report the deal while Jeff Passan of ESPN added the financials for the 31-year-old hurler. While LeClerc has functioned in the closer’s capacity in his past, he’ll work in a setup role for the Athletics being fire-balling right-hander Mason Miller. LeClerc posted a 4.32 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and an 89/32 K/BB ratio across 66 2/3 innings for the Rangers during the 2024 season.

Yates got the final out of the eighth inning, and while he did give up a hit in the ninth, he was able to keep the Tigers off the board while picking up his second save of the season. Jose Leclerc also worked in the game Thursday, and while he did strike out two without giving up a run, he also walked a pair while throwing 10-of-25 pitches for strikes. Long story short, Yates looks solid and Leclerc does not, and that’s why the former is going to get the bulk of the save chances for the foreseeable future.

The 30-year-old hurler entered the season as the Rangers’ closer, but after registering a 14.40 ERA, 2.40 WHIP and a 4/6 K/BB ratio over five innings, it was time for a change. LeClerc pitched a scoreless sixth inning on Friday — though he did still allow a hit and a walk. Expect David Robertson and Kirby Yates to handle the ball in the ninth inning for the time being.

Leclerc was summoned to protect a one-run lead in the final frame and was unable to get the job done. He struck out J.D. Davis and issued a one-out walk to Seth Brown before serving up a go-ahead homer to Shea Langeliers. He’s now given up eight runs in five innings for the year, and it’s definitely worth wondering if it’s time for the Rangers to turn to David Robertson.

Seemingly, because none of the stat agencies seem to have credited him with the save yet, even though we’re nearly sure that he qualifies for it by the letter of the rule. Leclerc came on to get the final out of the eighth inning with the Rangers leading by a run and did so by getting Jose Abreu to strike out. The Rangers then padded their lead with four runs in the bottom of the eighth and Leclerc returned to work a scoreless ninth. That should absolutely be a save, and expect that it will get changed. For the season, the 30-year-old hurler now holds a 13.50 ERA, 2.50 WHIP and a cringe-inducing 2/5 K/BB ratio over his four innings of work.