OAKLAND, Calif. — The Oakland Athletics have secured a deal with experienced right-handed reliever Mark Leiter Jr., who became available after the New York Yankees declined to tender him a contract following the 2025 season. Multiple sources confirmed the agreement Thursday. The contract spans one year and carries a value between $2.85 million and $3 million, subject to completion of a physical examination.
Leiter Jr., age 34, adds significant big-league experience to an Athletics relief corps that emerged as one of baseball’s more effective bullpen groups during the final months of the 2025 campaign. His signing represents Oakland’s first meaningful move during the current MLB Winter Meetings.
Yankees bullpen shakeup
New York opted against tendering Leiter a contract after he compiled a 4.84 ERA across 59 relief outings in 2025, recording two saves along the way. The earned run average and overall performance fell short of what the Yankees had anticipated, leading the organization to allow him to test free agency.
However, deeper statistical analysis paints a more favorable picture of Leiter’s contributions. Advanced metrics indicate he pitched considerably better than his traditional numbers suggest. His expected ERA, which factors in contact quality and strikeout percentages, hovered around 3.72. He posted impressive figures in hard-hit rate and average exit velocity surrendered. His whiff generation exceeded league norms by a substantial margin, and he induced ground balls at an above-average clip. These characteristics align well with what Oakland’s pitching development staff values.
The Yankees head into the 2026 season with a significantly altered relief unit. Devin Williams and Leiter, who together logged more than 110 innings out of the bullpen in 2025, have both departed via free agency.
What the A’s are getting
Oakland’s relief pitchers delivered a stellar 2.99 ERA during the second half of 2025 after the franchise dealt former closer Mason Miller before the trade deadline. The A’s have operated with a bullpen-by-committee structure for late-inning assignments, rotating through pitchers including Sean Newcomb, Hogan Harris, Michael Kelly, Jack Perkins and Elvis Alvarado in closing situations. Leiter Jr. provides manager Mark Kotsay with another proven option to deploy in high-leverage moments.
Leiter brings previous stints with the Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays and Chicago Cubs to Oakland, offering the A’s a veteran arm accustomed to major-league competition.
Comparing Yankees and A’s 2025 campaigns
The Yankees produced one of the American League’s most potent offensive performances in 2025. They concluded the regular season with a 94-68 record and finished tied atop the AL East standings. Stars like Aaron Judge fueled the attack, as he paced all of Major League Baseball with a .331 batting average and 53 home runs while capturing the AL batting championship.
In head-to-head matchups against Oakland during 2025, the Yankees posted a 4-2 record, outscoring the A’s by a considerable amount and demonstrating their offensive superiority.
New York’s lineup led the league in both runs scored and home runs, while Oakland’s offense struggled comparatively with fewer runs and a lower OPS during the early portion of the season.
The A’s wrapped up the year at 76-86 and placed fourth in the AL West. Despite the losing record, their bullpen’s improvement down the stretch provided encouragement and established a platform for continued development with acquisitions like Leiter Jr.
Boone’s confidence and Yankees’ pitching outlook
Yankees manager Aaron Boone has expressed support for the team’s pitching staff despite recent departures from the bullpen. Boone stressed the organization’s faith in younger pitchers assuming larger roles and enhancing overall relief corps reliability next season.
“We are confident in the guys we have and the depth we’ve added,” Boone said at the Winter Meetings. “Every team goes through changes. This is ours and we’re ready for it.”
New York has made moves to replenish its pitching resources. During the Rule 5 Draft, the Yankees claimed right-hander Cade Winquest from the St. Louis Cardinals organization, banking on him to contend for a bullpen roster spot during spring training.
Furthermore, left-handed reliever Tim Hill reached an agreement to rejoin the Yankees on a one-year contract, bringing stability to the left-handed side of the relief unit.
Fan reaction and next season implications
Yankees supporters have displayed divided reactions to losing veteran bullpen contributors. Some view Leiter’s exit as a chance for emerging talent to establish themselves in New York’s relief corps. Others express concern that the Yankees’ failure to retain experienced relievers might prove costly in tight contests.
For Oakland, bringing Leiter Jr. aboard reflects a wider approach of signing budget-conscious veterans capable of helping a youthful roster improve its win total. With the franchise preparing for relocation to Las Vegas and a new stadium currently under construction, Oakland seeks to generate positive momentum on the field while simultaneously reinvesting in its farm system and pitching depth.
Leiter’s transition illustrates how rapidly free agent relievers can alter circumstances for clubs in rebuilding or adjustment modes. His track record and advanced statistical profile suggest he retains substantial value at the major-league level.
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