Ex-Mets pitcher Luis Severino heading to Sacramento on record deal with A's

Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News on Dec 5, 2024

Published in Baseball

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NEW YORK — The Mets will not be getting the 2024 band back together.

Luis Severino is heading to Sacramento on a three-year, $67 million contract, earning a record deal from the beleaguered franchise that will play in a minor league park for at least the next three seasons. It’s the largest guaranteed contract in A’s history.

While the Mets had hoped to work out a deal to re-sign the free agent right-hander, ultimately the price became more than they were willing to pay. The club will receive a draft pick from the A’s since Severino rejected his qualifying offer.

“Thank you New York Mets fans for all the support all year long,” Severino posted on X. “Thank you Mets staff and front office for everything. I will forever be grateful for an incredible season.”

The former Yankees ace had a bounce-back season with the Mets in 2024, going 11-7 with a 3.91 ERA over 31 starts. Making all of his starts was a victory itself given Severino’s lengthy injury history. After two All-Star seasons in 2017 and 2018, Severino missed most of 2019 with a shoulder injury, then underwent Tommy John surgery, sidelining him for all of 2020 and most of 2021. He made only 19 starts in 2022 and 18 in 2023, looking like a different pitcher.

But with the Mets, a bearded Severino took control of his health and added a sweeper, which became his put-away pitch. He sat comfortably at 95-96 mph last season and was able to reach back for 98 when needed.

In Sacramento, Severino will be away from the spotlight. He’ll have to contend with extremely hot summers, dry weather and the small confines of a minor league ballpark, but the capital city has an endearing small-town feel that could offer a reprieve from the big-market pressure Severino has faced throughout his nine-year career.

There are no expectations for the A’s to contend, so the pressure is significantly lessened. The Sacramento area treats the NBA’s Kings like, well, kings. A veteran like Severino could receive the same treatment from the locals.

Still, there is some debate as to whether the A’s overpaid. Severino will be 31 next season and has a lengthy injury history. If this is any indication as to what the starting pitching market is going to look like, it’s not going to be cheap. This also shows the Mets’ line of thinking when it comes to filling out the rotation.

By letting Severino go, the Mets made it clear that they’re looking for pitchers who will sign short-term contracts, much like the one Severino signed with the Amazins’ a year ago for one year at $13 million. Right-hander Frankie Montas, a former A’s starter, recently signed a two-year pact with an option.

Montas will be a project, but the Mets believe their pitching coaches will be able to maximize the value of those types of pitchers. It worked last year with Severino and Sean Manaea, but it didn’t work with right-hander Adrian Houser.

President of baseball operations David Stearns is clearly willing to spend big on Juan Soto, but when it comes to starting pitchers, the Mets are still staying away from the free agent aces who are hoping for pricey long-term contracts.