Two Free-Agent Relievers Off the Board: Jose Leclerc to the A’s, AJ Minter to the Mets

While Jed Hoyer and the Chicago Cubs still have time to find the much-needed (and implicitly promised) back-end free-agent reliever this offseason, two solid options just came off the table. This afternoon the news dropped about it Jose Leclerc signed a one-year contract of DKK 10 million. USD with athletics, while AJ Minter signs a two-year, $22 million deal with the Mets (UPDATE: It looks like he may have an opt-out after one year, which is pretty unusual for a reliever).

When we discussed the Cubs’ plans to sign a top free agent earlier today, both Leclerc and Minter were part of that list of seven plausible targets: Carlos Estevez, AJ Minter, Kirby Yates, Tommy Kahnle, David Robertson, Kenley Jansen, José Leclerc. But with those two down — and Tanner Scott likely still out of financial reach — the list shrinks to five. I still think Yates is the guy they’re looking for, but each of the above has its pros and cons.

As far as these deals go, there’s nothing too shocking here (in terms of finances). I think both guys did well, but neither was rewarded so dramatically outside of our expected range that they changed our expectations for the Cubs. So it’s good, I suppose, for a team whose budget may be tighter than we previously anticipated.

As for the teams that landed these players, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. I don’t think anyone had the A’s making another (relatively) expensive outlay this offseason, though they have spent more than usual as they prepare for their move to Vegas. So it’s a good relief target for a team we didn’t expect to sign one (bad for the Cubs’ leverage).

But the Mets are more of a surprise and a potentially/maybe/hopefully good thing for the Cubs. As a reminder, the Mets have been the team most often associated with Tanner Scott of late. And while NY (regarding Steve Cohen) obviously still has the money to sign him, this deal for Minter makes it a little less likely and necessary. Scott will have plenty of suitors no matter what, but I really thought he would be the next to go (and specifically to the Mets). I am very curious to follow the fallout.

Zooming out a level higher, both of these signings are a bit of a surprise, as most expected Scott to sign before anyone else in this run of the free-agent relief class. But neither Leclerc nor Minter (or Jeff Hoffman, for that matter) waited for the top man to set the market. So maybe others will soon follow suit.