WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Oakland Athletics have signed right-handed pitcher José Leclerc to a one-year deal for the 2025 season. To make room on the 40-man roster, right-handed pitcher Will Klein has been designated for assignment.
Leclerc posted a 6-5 record with a save, a 4.32 ERA, and a .671 opponents OPS in 64 relief appearances for Texas last season. He struck out 89 batters in 66.2 innings (12.02 K/9) and tied for 14th among MLB relievers in strikeouts. The 31-year-old right-hander achieved a career-high in wins, with his games pitched, innings pitched, and strikeouts being the second most of his career since 2019. Leclerc held opponents to a .227 average, including .193 against right-handed hitters, but issued 32 walks for a .323 on-base percentage.
In his eight-season MLB career, all with Texas, Leclerc has a 12-20 record, 41 saves, and a 3.27 ERA in 350 appearances. He has amassed 473 strikeouts in 360.1 innings (11.81 K/9), holding the Rangers-Senators franchise record for most strikeouts by a reliever. Signed by Texas out of the Dominican Republic in 2010 at age 16, Leclerc made his MLB debut in 2016. In 2018, he posted a 1.56 ERA and 12 saves in 59 relief appearances. In 2019, he tallied 14 saves and 100 strikeouts in 68.2 innings over 70 relief appearances. Leclerc missed most of the 2020 season due to a torn right teres major muscle and was out for the entire 2021 season following “Tommy John” surgery. Since his return, he has pitched in 160 games across three seasons, recording a 3.36 ERA, a .629 opponents OPS, and 210 strikeouts in 171.1 innings.
Will Klein, one of three players acquired from Kansas City in the Lucas Erceg trade on July 30, 2024, made his MLB debut last year, pitching in five games for the Royals and three for the A’s. The 25-year-old right-hander recorded an 11.05 ERA and a .990 opponents OPS in eight games overall. Spending the majority of the season at the Triple-A level, Klein went 2-2 with a minor league career-high nine saves, a 3.77 ERA, and a .645 opponents OPS in 38 relief appearances with Omaha (34 games) and Las Vegas (four games).
