SURPRISE, Ariz. - The Rangers are making Jose Leclerc part of their long-term future.
According to two sources, the club has agreed on a contract extension with the emerging closer on a long-term deal. No details of the deal were available. Though Leclerc, 25, has already had a physical as part of spring training, the Rangers often insure long-term deals and that could hold up an announcement.
Leclerc has two years and 41 days of service time, leaving him shy of salary arbitration for this year. He was going to earn less than $600,000 for 2019.
A year ago, Leclerc emerged as a star in the bullpen and assumed the closer's role after Keone Kela was traded to Pittsburgh at the deadline.