The Oakland Athletics' bullpen, which was a strength in 2024, has faced challenges in the early stages of the 2025 season. Despite offseason additions like veteran right-hander José Leclerc, intended to bolster the relief corps, recent performances have highlighted inconsistencies. In a recent game against the St. Louis Cardinals, the bullpen struggled to maintain a late lead, allowing four runs in the seventh inning and ultimately leading to a 7-5 loss.

During that inning, relievers Angel Felipe and Francisco Pérez issued multiple walks, loading the bases and setting the stage for a bases-clearing double by Jordan Walker. This pivotal moment underscored the bullpen's current instability.

While the Athletics' bullpen showed significant improvement in 2024, ranking 13th in the Majors with a combined 3.83 ERA, the early 2025 season has presented new challenges. The team is actively seeking ways to regain the consistency that made their bullpen a formidable force last season.