6:18pm: Leclerc will be shut down from throwing for an undermined amount of time, reports Martín Gallegos of MLB.com. He’ll go for a second opinion next week and seems to be in for an extended absence.
5:00pm: The Athletics announced a series of roster moves today, including the previously-reported promotion of prospect Nick Kurtz, which is now official. They also recalled pitchers Grant Holman and Hogan Harris. In corresponding moves, they optioned infielder Max Muncy and left-hander Jacob Lopez, as well as placing righty José Leclerc on the 15-day injured list with a right lat strain.
Leclerc was put into last night’s contest but departed after just seven pitches due to shoulder soreness. Manager Mark Kotsay told reporters, including Jessica Kleinschmidt of Baseball America, that it was more of a strain than soreness.
That makes today’s IL stint fairly unsurprising but it’s still unwelcome for the A’s. Leclerc was the club’s big offseason bullpen investment, as they gave him $10MM on a one-year deal this winter. Throughout his career, he has generally been able to rack up punchouts, even if he gives out a high number of free passes. At this point, he has 369 1/3 major league innings with a 3.34 earned run average, 30.8% strikeout rate and 13.1% walk rate.
He’s off to a rough start so far this year but it’s only nine innings and it’s possible that the shoulder has been bothering him even before this IL placement. His fastball is averaging 94.2 miles per hour this year, a drop from last year’s 95.3 mph. All his other pitches are down by similar amounts.
The A’s surely hoped that he would be a key setup guy for closer Mason Miller but the early results have been shaky and he’s now going to be out of action for at least a couple of weeks. Guys like Tyler Ferguson and Justin Sterner have been given some leverage work early on and will try to hold onto those roles while Leclerc is out.
Photo courtesy of Joe Nicholson, Imagn Images
Finally, some good moves from the A’s. That bullpen needed Hogan Harris back. Max Muncy was not producing offensively at all.
Tonight we’re gonna party like ite nineteen ninety blue moon Odom
A’s should dramatically improve defensively at 2b and 1b with these moves. Stay about the same in LF given that their defense there has been well below average to this point. Bullpen should also slightly improve. Not much to complain about and will make them more fun to watch with Kurtz in the lineup
Dramatically improve defensively, like triple play on every pitch that would be awesome. Imagine a single digit pitch count
I’m fine with Muncy getting shipped back down because he doesn’t look ready, but why is Seth Brown still on the A’s?
He is likely to be traded anyways.
Seth Broen isn’t that the weaselly red headed kid actor who was fighting for Dr Evils affection with his mini cousin? Not a very athletic sounding name – which is ironic because he’s on a sporting team called the Athletics
This guy got a 1/$10 million deal while Coulombe got less than 1/3 that. A’s just spent money to spend. Makes their years of being cheap look even more like they were just pocketing money. I hope John Fisher gets prion disease.
Well mskes total sense why Frenchy prolly got more than Coulombo its all about appearances. When you wear a long ruffled overcoat and shuffle around mumbling like a hobo futilely trying to solve puzzles you’re likely to get underpaid by your employer.
You got a response for every comment on here. Very invested.
Big fan of le rangers. Taveras Jung Seager etc
What is a LeClerc? Is that like a silent silent Bob where he’s also a mime? Consider one intrigued.
I remember when Jose Leclerc was first signed, a good amount of people (mostly Fisher apologists) were praising the signing…
Screenshots?
I don’t think there’s a way to post screenshots but I do have the article’s link, though: mlbtraderumors.com/2025/01/athletics-sign-jose-lec… (The “Fisher apologists” in particular being Dorothy_Mantooth and fjmendez. tjmacari I haven’t seen posting in awhile and I’m surprised JoeBrady didn’t praise the signing too.)
A’s have a bad recent history of signing veteran relievers on one year deals and getting completely burned. Next man up.
Check ya lat-er
What’s hilarious is the A’s Max Muncy and the Dodgers Max Muncy are nearly identical statistically. Both have been awful but the rookie managed a Home Run, which the veteran is yet to do
TJS and shoulder woes hint at a fragile frame. Got to build up that frame.
Wasn’t excited to sign LeCerc for 10 mill. Would rather have Ferguson, Holman, Ohtanez and shoot even Sterner(still not a single run including ST) than LeCerc.