The Oakland Athletics moved quickly to reinforce their bullpen, securing veteran right-hander Mark Leiter Jr. on a one-year contract worth roughly $3 million. The deal, pending a physical, marks Oakland’s first Major League signing of the offseason and aligns perfectly with general manager David Forst’s stated goal of adding experience to a young, evolving relief group.
A Needed Boost for a Rising Bullpen
Leiter arrives after a mixed 2025 season with the Yankees, where early success gave way to late-year struggles. Despite his 4.84 ERA, underlying metrics painted a far more encouraging picture. He ranked among the league’s elite in limiting hard contact, posting a 94th-percentile hard-hit rate and an expected ERA of 3.72. His curveball—featuring over six inches of added vertical drop compared to league-average breakers—remains a legitimate weapon, producing a whiff rate of at least 50 percent for two straight seasons. In Oakland, Leiter projects as a high-leverage option within a closer-by-committee framework that helped the A’s surge to a 34–24 finish to close 2025.
A Track Record That Extends Beyond the Numbers
Since establishing himself with the Cubs in 2022, Leiter has consistently displayed strong peripheral performance. Over the past four seasons, he maintained a league-average 4.15 ERA paired with a standout splitter that makes him particularly tough on left-handed hitters. Against lefties alone, he posted a 2.49 ERA and a 32.1 percent strikeout rate over the last three years. Although his traditional results sometimes lag behind his advanced indicators—due in part to an unusually high BABIP—his skill set gives the A’s a stabilizing presence with late-inning upside.
Why Oakland Viewed Leiter as an Ideal Fit
As the A’s continue shaping a roster built around rising talent such as Nick Kurtz, Jacob Wilson, Shea Langeliers, and Lawrence Butler, Leiter brings something the bullpen lacked: a veteran with the experience to anchor tight games. The current group—featuring Hogan Harris, Michael Kelly, Elvis Alvarado, and Tyler Ferguson—thrived collectively down the stretch, and Leiter’s arrival enhances that foundation. For a team still determining its long-term closer, his ability to handle the seventh, eighth, or ninth inning offers valuable flexibility.
A Move With Low Risk and Clear Upside
Forst’s offseason strategy emphasized adding a seasoned arm without compromising payroll agility, and Leiter checks every box. His durability, pitch craft, and history of outperforming his role make him a sensible addition for a roster aiming to take another step toward contention in 2026. Though the A’s still have significant holes to address—particularly in the rotation—this signing represents a meaningful step in building a bullpen capable of supporting their young core.
Leiter’s arrival blends experience with upside, giving Oakland a stabilizing presence as it seeks to turn competitive flashes into sustained progress.
More MLB: Dodgers Sign Edwin DÃaz to Three-Year, $69M Bullpen Deal