Rangers closer Jose Leclerc is suffering from elbow soreness that will cause the righty to miss “extended time,” according to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News (Twitter link) and multiple reporters. Leclerc has already left the Rangers’ Spring Training camp and headed to Texas for further examination. In more unfortunate injury news, southpaws Joely Rodriguez and Brett Martin will also begin the season on the injured list, though their absences aren’t expected to last as long.
With Jonathan Hernandez already out through at least the first part of April due to a UCL sprain, Leclerc’s injury represents another long-term hit to the Texas bullpen. Any mention of an elbow problem naturally raises the concern of Tommy John surgery, which would keep the 27-year-old Leclerc out of action until midway through the 2022 season.
This is the second significant injury in as many years for Leclerc, who pitched in only two games last season due to a tear of his right teres muscle. His return to action was marked by a late arrival at camp due to visa issues, and then Leclerc didn’t have his usual velocity over 3 2/3 Cactus League outings, which perhaps isn’t unexpected as he was rebuilding his arm strength.
Despite it all, Leclerc was the provisional favorite to enter the season as the Texas closer. He was first promoted to the job back in 2018, during a season that saw Leclerc post a 1.56 ERA/2.60 SIERA and a whopping 38.1K% (eighth-highest of any pitcher in baseball with at least 50 IP) over 57 2/3 frames out of the Rangers’ bullpen. His performance took a step back in 2019, due in part to both an increase in walks and a big decrease in batted-ball luck (a .306 BABIP in 2019, as opposed to a .211 BABIP in 2018), but it should be noted that most of Leclerc’s struggles that year were contained to the month of April.
Prior to that 2019 season, Leclerc signed a contract extension that paid him a guaranteed $14.75MM through the 2022 season, with the Rangers holding club options on his services for both 2023 ($6MM, $750K buyout) and 2024 ($6.25MM, $500K buyout). While not a huge financial investment, this extension will end up looking like something of a bust for Texas should the worst come to pass and Leclerc does require TJ surgery.
Rodriguez (sprained ankle) and Martin (back) haven’t yet pitched during Spring Training, but both left-handers could end up spending a relatively short time on the IL, perhaps even just a minimal 10-day absence. Their returns will be greatly welcomed by a Rangers bullpen that is now suddenly thin on arms. It remains to be seen who will be the first choice for save with both Leclerc and Hernandez out, and the role could fall to minor league signings Ian Kennedy or Matt Bush.
Tank Tank Tank
uh oh
@Rangers29 –
Take a deeeeeeep breath, young man.
Rebuilding, better draft position, etc, etc.
Totally sucks though, man. Leclerc is a pretty good closer.
At least the offense looks better than anticipated… Jesus Christ…
This pen is a strength… but when Demarcus Evans. J-Rod, J-He, Leclerc, and Martin aren’t there, it starts to look a little weak lol. I guess that’s what happens when 5 of your best (or most promising) relievers fall to injury… Expect Matt Bush and Josh Sborz to fill big roles in the pen while LITERALLY the rest of the pen is out. The rotation and offense don’t want to commit to team tank just yet, so the bullpen had to make up some of the ground I guess.
I’m fairly certain that you are the only person alive who doesn’t think that the Rangers are tanking.
This is semantics, but I wouldn’t call it tanking. The past few years, the club has spent PROSPECTS to go out and get young, major-league ready players with lots of service time (i.e Nick Solak, Willie Calhoun, Nate Lowe, David Dahl). That isn’t tanking. Tanking is selling off every single asset you have in order to load up for the future (i.e Pirates, Orioles, Tigers). This isn’t the same path those teams took, so while I don’t think it’s “tanking” I would say that it’s re-tooling, re-loading, or whatever re- word you want to use.
Calhoun was the return for Darvish
Solak was traded 1-1 for a reliever, Pete Fairbanks
Nate Lowe cost a superior prospect in Heriberto
Dahl was a free agent sign, and is injury-prone and made of glass
The Rangers got those guys as lotto tickets, no different to the lotto tickets the Pirates, Orioles and Tigers have gotten every year. It’s tanking no matter how you want to spin it. Tanking isn’t just “sell everything and play minor leaguers” its also “buy lotto tickets you can potentially flip at the deadline for more solid prospects”.
That said, Shane Greene is probably the best option out of this bunch, but the Rangers should get as many of them as they can:
Shane Greene (32)
Juan Nicasio (34)
Roberto Osuna (26)
Brad Peacock (33)
AJ Ramos (34)
David Robertson (36)
Tyler Thornburg (32)
Edinson Volquez (37)
Damn.
Now I’m conflicted.
How about; no matter how you want to term it, the Rangers aren’t trying very hard to win, man.
I feel like we can all live with that particularstatement.
But these aren’t just lotto pieces to flip. The team plans on keeping Solak, Lowe, and hopefully Dahl for the future (Calhoun has been in bad shape ever since he got hit in the face last ST…). That isn’t tanking. It dang sure ain’t winning, which I can agree with you on. We’d be lucky to sniff 73-75 wins this season. But that’s not tanking imo.
The lotto tickets that the Tigers, Orioles, and Pirates got aren’t the same “lotto tickets” the Rangers got. The Tigers got Schoop and Cron. They weren’t part of the future. The Rangers got Solak and Lowe. They are part of the future. That simple.
I’ll buy a lot of that.
It’s certainly not the salt the fields leave no survivors flavor of rebuild.
But it is a kind of no man’s land of competitiveness. & – even when the (football) Giants are bad I want to see them win.
I don’t think they are either. Rebuilding for sure with young guys. Leaving lots of open payroll to start adding free agents along with the up and coming young guys next season
You put it significantly better than I did.
Sborz !!!! Whew, expect the fans to get a few extra souvenirs in the OF bleachers !
Glad Josh landed a job tho, didn’t know he went to Tay-Has
It’s been reported that he’s impressing in ST. I don’t know what to take from that, but it doesn’t really matter if he’s good or not.
Time for the Rangers to call Shane Greene.
Greene is the obvious answer.
Joely Rodriguez seems to be very injury-prone
Will be competing for the first draft pick, which isn’t a bad thing – except the Rangers track record in the draft for the past decade is past pathetic (especially in the first round). I have no idea how the person in charge of the draft, Kipp Fagg, still has a job.
The Pirates are the envy of MLB with the #1 draft pick this year. Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter are available.
i daresay having #2 is better this year. dont want to have the choice and make the wrong one.
I hope that the Pirates take Kumar. He’s not bad whatsoever, but he has worse control than Leiter, and Leiter is the more polished pitcher in every aspect other than having a big breaking pitch. I want Leiter the most, but even Lawlar wouldn’t be bad. The Twitter realm thinks Kumar is the best by far, but that just isn’t the case. I want Leiter the most, and I hope that the Pirates pick based on popularity and not based on prospects.
They lost Hernandez too! Matt Bush comeback??
Roberto Clemente is in MLB the Show 21!!!
Who is the closer now?
By committee wouldn’t be a bad choice for a rebuilding team. Let the relievers find their niche.
BIG SEXY!!!!!!
Most likely Ian Kennedy as he was recently the closer for KC.
Don’t need a closer if you don’t win
What’s Francisco Cordero up to these days?
what about K-Rod
If the Padres were interested in Joey Gallo, and the Rangers were asking for arms, what would a trade look like? Asking for a friend haha
Mackenzie Gore sounds good. Throw in Dinelson Lamet if they’re feeling generous.
Heck I’d give up Gore,Marcano,Lawson and Espinoza for him.
Better ring up Greene before the blue jays, dunno why he’d pick Texas over the Jays though unless he doesnt want to swap home ballparks a few times. Looking like ol Matt Bush may be our closer again
We can’t develop pitching to save our arse. There’s an inherent problem with this club… And it starts from the top. Woody can manage. Give him the tools!
These aren’t the Astros or Cubs or even the Red Sox. The Rangers dont tank like those teams did to play A level ball for five years to get all of the top draft picks.
Even if we did, we can’t develop a Pitcher. Name one! Maybe C.J.? We ruined Alexi Ogando, etc. J.D. gets a pass for obe or two good trades. The rest put this team where they are.
Funny how the Rays can do WAY more with far less $. I’d fire J.D. and Kip Fagg on down.
You notice that Prellar and Servais are in charge of contenders? They were the brains. Jon is a spare.
Even if we did, we can’t develop a Pitcher. Name one! Maybe C.J.? We ruined Alexi Ogando, etc. J.D. gets a pass for obe or two good trades. The rest put this team where they are.
Funny how the Rays can do WAY more with far less $. I’d fire J.D. and Kip Fagg on down.
You notice that Prellar and Servais are in charge of contenders? They were the brains. Jon is a spare.