Luis Severino is heading west after one strong season with the New York Mets. The right-hander has signed a franchise-record deal with the Oakland Athletics, marking the next chapter in his career.
On Thursday, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that Severino agreed to a three-year, $67 million contract with the A’s. The deal, which includes an opt-out clause after the second year, also features a $500,000 assignment bonus if he is traded, according to Joel Sherman of The New York Post.
This contract sets a new benchmark for the A’s, making it the largest guaranteed deal in their history. Severino’s annual salary of $23.33 million surpasses the qualifying offer he declined from the Mets by over $2 million per year.
Severino Thanks Mets Fans
Shortly after the announcement, Severino shared a heartfelt message on social media, expressing gratitude to Mets fans and the organization:
“Thank you New York (Mets) fans for all the support all year long,” Severino wrote on X/Twitter. “Thank you Mets staff and front office for everything. I’ll forever be grateful for an incredible season.”
A Risk That Paid Off
Severino’s decision to decline the Mets’ qualifying offer initially raised eyebrows, given his struggles with the Yankees in 2023. However, the move proved wise as he enjoyed a bounce-back campaign in 2024.
Reinventing his approach, Severino leaned more on contact rather than relying solely on strikeouts. A key adjustment was increasing his sinker usage from 2.8% in 2023 to 24.8% in 2024, boosting his ground-ball rate to 45.2%.
The results spoke for themselves. Severino delivered his first fully healthy season since 2018, finishing with a 3.91 ERA, 161 strikeouts, and 182 innings pitched across 31 starts. He also recorded his second career complete game and led the Mets’ rotation in innings pitched, edging out teammate Sean Manaea, who logged 181 2/3 innings.
Mets Gain Draft Compensation
While the Mets are disappointed to lose Severino, the team will benefit from his departure. Since he rejected their qualifying offer before signing with Oakland, New York will receive draft-pick compensation.
Severino’s leadership and camaraderie will be missed in Queens, but his resurgence with the Mets has earned him this lucrative deal. Now, the A’s are counting on the veteran right-hander to lead their pitching staff as they continue building for the future.
Leave a Reply