Padres release J.P. France, José Leclerc as Wild Card race demands usable depth

The Padres entered Sept. 8 sitting at 76-68, only a half-game outside the final NL Wild Card spot. Every arm in the organization needs to serve a purpose at this point in the season. J.P. France and José Leclerc were no longer clearing that bar.

Both right-handers were released from Triple-A El Paso on Sept. 7. Neither occupied a spot on the 40-man roster, so this wasn’t a big roster shakeup in the clubhouse. It was the Padres cleaning out emergency pitching options they knew they couldn’t trust.

The names are familiar enough. France once looked like a useful major-league starter. Leclerc owns 41 career saves and pitched big innings for a World Series champion. History earned each of them an opportunity. But it looks like the Padres realized they weren’t going to use either of them down the stretch.

Padres were right to cut bait on J.P. France and José Leclerc

France signed a minor-league deal with the Friars in August after being released by the Astros. His stay with El Paso lasted 10 appearances, all in relief. It went nowhere.

France allowed 19 hits and eight walks over 10 2/3 innings, finishing with an 8.44 ERA and 2.53 WHIP. His nine strikeouts offered little upside with all the traffic he allowed. Opposing hitters reached base so frequently that calling him depth was probably too generous.

If the Padres needed France during the final weeks of the season, they needed to believe he could work innings without turning a manageable game into a disaster. His El Paso performance gave them no reason to believe it.

The timing also stands out. Nick Pivetta returned from the IL on Sept. 7, the same day France and Leclerc were released. Those moves weren’t direct roster swaps, but they captured the change in San Diego’s pitching picture.

Padres gave José Leclerc a full runway before ending his comeback bid

Leclerc deserves a little more context because his season was never as simple as an ugly line in Triple-A.

The Padres signed him to a minor-league contract in March. He opened the season on the 60-day IL, then worked his way through the Arizona Complex League, Fort Wayne, San Antonio and eventually El Paso.

The Padres had months to evaluate him. By the time Leclerc reached Triple-A, the organization had enough data on where his comeback stood. The final numbers were bad. Leclerc surrendered 17 hits and eight walks in 7 2/3 innings with El Paso. He struck out only four batters while posting an 11.74 ERA and 3.26 WHIP.

A veteran reliever can throw away a bad outing. But carrying nearly four times as many walks as strikeouts while trying to convince a contender that he belongs near a major-league bullpen isn’t going to work.

There is no shame in A.J. Preller taking these gambles. He should keep collecting experienced pitchers when the cost is low. Sometimes the old stuff returns. Sometimes it doesn’t. 

France and Leclerc received their chances. Neither forced his way into San Diego’s plans, and neither gave the club a compelling reason to keep waiting. Carrying them through September would have preserved name recognition, not meaningful depth.

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