Texas Rangers: Assessing a potential Jose Leclerc trade

Contractual Obligation

Looking deeper into the financials is where we find the Sean Doolittle comparison.

At the time of the trade, Doolittle was owed roughly $1 million for the remainder of the 2017 season, with three years of control left on his deal.

He was guaranteed $4.35 million in 2018, with club options for the 2019-2020 seasons for $6 and $6.5 million.

Similarly, Leclerc is under control until 2024, on a very cheap contract.

In 2021, Leclerc will earn $4.5 million and will increase to $5.25MM, $6MM and $6.25MM over the next three seasons.

The 2023 and 2024 seasons are both team options.

When comparing the two, the contracts are almost identical in length and value.

Even after a down year, the contractual obligations are too affordable, by MLB standards, to pass up.