5 under-the-radar free agent relievers the Pirates should pursue

Jose Leclerc

Jose Leclerc has been a stalwart in the Texas Rangers’ bullpen for years now, finding his groove during their 2023 World Series run. While the hard-throwing righty is coming off a season with an ERA approaching the mid-4.00s, his previous track record, along with some of his other peripherals, suggests he could return to form in the near future.

Leclerc pitched 66.2 innings this year, working to a 4.32 ERA, but a far superior 3.48 FIP and 1.32 WHIP. The right-hander has always carried a high punchout rate, and 2024 was no different, with a 30.9% K%. He has also typically been good at silencing home runs, and put up an 0.95 HR/9 rate with an above-average 87.4 MPH exit velocity (84th percentile) and 7.4% barrel rate (56th percentile). But free passes have always bothered Leclerc, and he had an 11.1% walk rate during this off year

There’s never been a question about Leclerc’s stuff. Stuff+ pinned him at 110. He was in the 70th percentile of fastball velocity with above-average vertical movement on the pitch. ERA estimator numbers also pinned Leclerc as a solid arm. His 3.26 SIERA and 3.48 xFIP were both the best he’s put up since 2018.

Leclerc has been a solid reliever for years now, and 2024 was the first time he’s put up a below-average ERA+, but nothing much changed between his peripherals year-over-year. Plus, most of his struggles can be traced back to the first month and a half of the season. Leclerc has experience closing games out, including as recently as 2023 when he recorded four saves in the Rangers’ aforementioned World Series run.