Article: Potential Twins Bullpen Target: Jose Leclerc, RHP, Rangers

[Andrew Thares]

As we draw near the July 31st trade deadline, which is now under a week away, speculation is starting to heat up about players that may or may not be traded before the deadline. Throughout the month of June, we touched on a number of potential relievers that could be available for the Minnesota Twins to acquire, now it appears that a couple more names have been made available on the trade block, one of whom is Texas Rangers fireballer Jose Leclerc.Coming off a strong 2018, where he posted a 1.56 ERA (1.90 FIP) with 13.3 K/9 and 3.9 BB/9 in 57 and 2/3 innings for the Rangers, Jose Leclerc was being considered as one of the top young relievers in the game. This led the Rangers to give the 25-year-old righty a contract extension that locked up Leclerc’s salary through his arbitration years and gives them a team option for 2023 and 2024. If the Twins were to acquire Leclerc, they would be receiving this team friendly contract that only has $13.75 million in guaranteed money remaining.

 

Much was made about the awful start that Jose Leclerc had to begin the 2019 season, which led to Leclerc losing his closer role. In 13 appearances i, Leclerc had a 8.44 ERA with 14 strikeouts and 9 walks allowed in 10 and 2/3 innings pitched. However, since the beginning of May, Leclerc has been much better, to the tune of a 2.80 ERA with 56 strikeouts and 13 walks in 35 and 1/3 innings. It is probably safe the assume that the 2018 and post April 2019 versions of Leclerc are a more accurate representation of who his really is as a pitcher, since the sample size is so much larger. The expected stats generated via Statcast back this up as well. In 2018, Leclerc’s expected wOBA sat at .209, which lead all 361 MLB pitchers who faced at least 200 batters. This year, Leclerc’s expected wOBA sits at .258, which still ranks 22nd among the 411 MLB pitchers who have faced at least 100 hitters this year.

 

What makes Leclerc so intriguing is the electric stuff that he brings out of the pen. Leclerc’s four-seam fastball averages 96.6 MPH, which is in the 92nd percentile in Major League Baseball. Additionally, Leclerc throws his four-seamer with tremendous amounts of backspin. At 2,648 RMP, his four-seamer has the third highest average RPM amongst the 420 MLB pitchers who have thrown at least 100 four-seam fastballs in 2019. Leclerc pairs this pitch up with an above-average slider and a decent changeup that he mixes in about 10 percent of the time.

 

The part that might give the Twins some pause in trying to acquire Leclerc would be a high asking price in terms of prospect capital, at least for a reliever. Leclerc certainly wouldn’t cost a king’s ransom that would require the Twins to give up Royce Lewis or Alex Kirilloff, but the Rangers would be well within their rights to ask for another top prospect like Jordan Balazovic or Trevor Larnach in order to get the deal done. The Twins could also look to do some sort of package deal that would include players like Jhoan Duran and Brent Rooker. This might seem like a lot for a reliever, but the Ranger’s aren’t exactly in a position where they have to move him now, since they still have him under team control though 2024.

 

See Also

Francisco Liriano, LHP, Pirates

Raisel Iglesias, RHP, Reds

Jake Diekman, LHP, Royals

Ian Kennedy, RHP, Royals

Sergio Romo, RHP, Marlins

Shane Greene, RHP, Tigers

Felipe Vázquez, LHP, Pirates

Will Smith, LHP, Giants

Liam Hendriks, RHP, Athletics

Ty Buttrey, RHP, Angels

Ken Giles, RHP, Blue Jays

Sam Dyson, RHP, Giants

Brad Hand, LHP, Indians

Oliver Perez, LHP Cleveland

Robert Stephenson, RHP, Reds

John Gant, RHP, Cardinals

Alex Colome, RHP, White Sox

Seth Lugo, RHP, Mets

Greg Holland, RHP, Diamondbacks

Sean Doolittle, LHP, Nationals

Kirby Yates, RHP, Padres

10 Relievers Minnesota Could Target

 

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[diehardtwinsfan]

Interesting. I suppose if they were to give up a top 10 guy for a reliver... this would be the type of move where it makes sense to do it. 

[LanceJS]

As long as Lewis and Kirillof are not part of this, the fact that he is under team control for five more years looks really good. It might be tough to give up a top 10 for a guy who lost the closer role this year, but it would be better to at least try to get some bullpen help.  Much better at least from a PR standpoint, to try than to simply do nothing, and given some of Falvey's comments, I fear that is a strong possiblity. 

[Aerodeliria]

I'd love to do a multi-player deal and get Mike Minor as well.