Signing Of Reliever Begs LeAnalysis From Blogfatheur

Of all the “plus relievers” on the free agent board this off-season, many now signed and many still unsigned, finally the A’s and a player found mutual interest: welcome Jose LeClerc to the green and gold.

The A’s and their fans are familiar with LeClerc because the hard throwing RHP has been in the division his entire career, specifically with the Texas Rangers for 8 seasons. LeClerc signed for 1 year, $10M in what will be his age 31 season.

The question that is going viral across America and undoubtedly parts of Antartica, Greenland, and the Himalayas is: “But what does Nico, some guy blogging from his bedroom, think of this signing?” Don’t worry. I’m about to tell you…

Subjectively

This is the part that ignores stats, objective observations and the like. As an opposing fan watching him come in to pitch against my team, I have always recognized that LeClerc had “big time stuff” (his fastball has averaged 95.8 MPH over his career, 96.8 MPH back in 2019, and his career K/9 IP rate is 11.81).

Nonetheless, subjectively I have viewed him as a reliever who, while putting up excellent stats and generally being very effective, will “give it up” in big spots — such as in the closer’s role.

Perhaps this perception was biased by the ownage Khris Davis put on LeClerc one series, launching dramatic 9th inning HRs to turn defeat into victory not once but twice. I have just tended, overall, to see LeClerc as a very good reliever who didn’t really scare me as the pitcher on the mound with the game on the line.

Now that could be seen as an indictment or a point of recommendation, considering that LeClerc has been signed not to serve as closer but rather to help set up the formidable Mason Miller. It could also be an inaccurate perception given that LeClerc has, in fact, notched 41 career saves.

Objectively

In reality, LeClerc has established himself as a quality “plus” reliever. Start with his K/9 IP rates throughout his career (I will only cite seasons with more than 15 IP) — they are impressive:

2017: 11.82 (45.2 IP, 60 K)
2018: 13.27 (57.2 IP, 85 K)
2019: 13.11 (68.2 IP, 100K)
2022: 10.20 (47.2 IP, 54 K)
2023: 10.58 (57 IP, 67 K)
2024: 12.02 (66.2 IP, 89 K)

The only dip under 11.82 is the 2 seasons following Tommy John surgery and he bounced back to over 12.00 last season. He is still only 31 and his velocity has maintained: last year’s 95.6 MPH was right in line with his career norms.

When he does allow balls to be put in play, LeClerc is still very effective. In 360.1 career IP he has allowed just 238 hits. Combined with all the Ks, this translates to an opponent batting average of .184.

On the flip side, walks have been somewhat of an issue over LeClerc’s career but it’s also worth noting that his career stats are skewed by being truly wild early in his career. In his first 2 seasons, LeClerc threw 60.2 IP and walked 53, but more recently his walk rates have been higher than you would like but not awful.

In 2022 he walked 3.97/9 IP (47.2 IP, 21 BB), in 2023 it was 4.42 (57 IP, 28 BB), and in 2024 it was 4.32 (66.2 IP, 32 BB). Maybe more than you would hope for, but at the rate he misses bats and avoids getting hit you can live with it and still eagerly ask him to pitch the 8th inning with a small lead.

Conclusion

Perhaps he is not ideally suited to the closer’s role, but as a set up man LeClerc is arguably still an elite reliever. 2024 was considered to be a down year for him, yet opponents still batted just .222, his K rates were sensational and the metrics suggested he was more unlucky than he was ineffective.

Given his age and continued strong velocity and K rates, you can reasonably expect LeClerc to continue pitching like he has the past few years rather than fearing a sudden decline. And over his post-TJS seasons he has been excellent, especially when not asked to shoulder the burden of being the closer.

Most of the relievers I would have preferred were going to be more expensive and had so many suitors it is unlikely they were telling Oakramento to keep calling. This is an affordable deal that allows the A’s to push Tyler Ferguson and Michel Otañez behind “primary set up man” on the depth chart and that’s a very good thing given their spotty minor league track records.

So despite my subjective biases, I am inclined to give this signing a “thumbs up”. A suddenly solid rotation has been complemented by a suddenly solid bullpen — even more so if the A’s use remaining payroll money to sign an affordable but quality LH reliever. cough Danny Coulombe cough

Please weigh in, both in the poll and in the comments, with your take on this signing. Bonus points if you do in French. Mon dieu, pense aux possibiltés!

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