Red Sox insider targets Rangers reliever as offseason addition for Boston

Forming a serviceable bullpen is hard task for any club, and it may have just gotten more challenging for a Texas Rangers team that already had some serious shuffling to do.

Boston Red Sox insider for NESN, Tim Crowley, recently suggested that reliever Jose Leclerc should be a free agent target for the group that resides in New England.

"Leclerc took a step back after the Rangers nearly pitched his arm off on their way to a World Series championship in 2023, Crowley said. "His ERA zipped up over 4.00 after posting a sub-3.00 ERA in 2022 and 2023."

Across 66.2 innings in 2024, Leclerc posted a 4.32 ERA. But, such a mark does not tell the full story. The Esperanza native ranked in the 92nd percentile in K%, the 96th percentile in Hard Hit%, and the 14th percentile in BB%.

Leclerc's pitch mix includes a fastball and slider that have helped him keep hitters on their toes. Even during what could be considered a down season for the 30-year-old, he was still able to strike out batters at a high clip and come just shy of a career-high in innings pitched.

Red Sox insider targets Rangers reliever as offseason addition for Boston

Leclerc will surely net a decent amount of suitors. Even though his BB% has never been among the best in baseball, teams will be drawn to his strikeout stuff. Texas has a number of holes to fill in their bullpen, but they are also trying to remain under the luxury threshold.

The Rangers could certainly look to keep Leclerc, but it is not known if the front office considers him a priority. Further, it is possible they would rather spend on a closer such as Kirby Yates. The team also has interest in retaining starters such as Andrew Heaney and Nathan Eovaldi.

After spending his entire career in Arlington, the righty may be headed for Boston or another team that will pay more for his services. It will be fascinating to see if Leclerc remains in the Rangers' price range or if he ends up being offered more than they are willing to provide.