DALLAS (105.3 The Fan) - The Texas Rangers have agreed to a long-term deal with Jose Leclerc, the team announced at spring training in Surprise, Arizona, Wednesday morning.
The deal is worth $14.75 million over the next four years and includes club options for $6 and $6.25 million for 2023 and 2024, according to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News.
Leclerc, 25, was set to earn less than $600,000 for 2019, per Spotrak. He was eligible for arbitration through the 2022 season.
"We view Jose as a huge piece of our club moving forward. He's one of the elite pitchers in the game and we're excited to have him here for a long time," Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said at a press conference to announce the signing.
"We view Jose as a huge piece of our club moving forward. He's one of the elite pitchers in the game and we're excited to have him here for a long time." -Rangers GM Jon Daniels on Jose Leclerc
— Jared Sandler (@JaredSandler) March 6, 2019Leclerc assumed the closer's role after Texas traded Keone Kela to the Pittsburgh Pirates at last year's trade deadline.
He had a 1.56 ERA and 0.85 WHIP in 57 dominant innings of work. Per 105.3The Fan's Jared Sandler, among pitchers who faced over 200 batters in 2018, Leclerc ranked first in batting average (.123) and slugging percentage (.194). He ranked ninth in strikeouts per nine innings, fourth in whiff rate (swing and miss/minimum 800 pitches), and ranked second in home runs allowed per nine innings.
HOW DOMINANT WAS JOSE LECLERC IN 2018? Check out his MLB rankings among pitchers who faced 200+ battersBA: 1st (.123)SLG: 1st (.194)Leclerc also ranked in 9th in K/9, 4th in whiff rate (min 800 pitches), 3rd in FIP, and 2nd in HR/9.
— Jared Sandler (@JaredSandler) March 6, 2019Per statcast, Leclerc ranked first in Expected Weighted On-Base Average (.210), which is a metric that is highly regarded by evaluators. Per Sandler, the metric factors in quality of contact (a long-term projector of success) as well as strikeouts and walks.
Leclerc was exceptional in the closer's role, nailing down 12 out of 13 save chances since getting the role following the Kela trade. Following his only blown save in the closer's role against the Oakland A's on July 25, Leclerc went on to throw 21 straight scoreless innings to end the season.
Leclerc surrendered his only HR of the season on July 25. It was against Khris Davis and resulted in his first blown save since inheriting the closer's role (had a BS previously). How did he respond the rest of the year?21 games21 innings0 runs…ZERO RUNS5 hits32 K6 BB
— Jared Sandler (@JaredSandler) March 6, 2019
