Luis Severino signs massive $67 million deal with Athletics

In a significant move for the Oakland Athletics, right-handed pitcher Luis Severino has signed a three-year deal worth $67 million, becoming the highest guarantee in the franchise's history. This agreement follows Severino's strong return season, where he pitched 182 innings with a 3.91 ERA for the New York Mets. Despite having been attached to a qualifying offer, which generally complicates a free agent's market opportunities, Severino's performance outperformed expectations, allowing him to secure a lucrative contract during a challenging free agency period for the Athletics. The A's faced a tough decision moving forward with their roster, having dealt with a long history of being a low-spending team. Traditionally, they have struggled to attract big-name free agents, particularly as the team is set to play in Sacramento's minor league stadium for the next three years before relocating to Las Vegas. However, with plans to increase their payroll to over $100 million, the Athletics took a significant step by investing heavily in Severino. This investment reflects their strong desire to improve their pitching rotation while establishing credibility with potential future signings. Severino, 30, once hailed as one of the top young pitchers in baseball, became an All-Star for the New York Yankees in 2017 and 2018. His career, however, has been marred by injuries, including a severe lat strain in 2019 and Tommy John surgery, which kept him off the field for most of 2020 and part of 2021. He managed to return in 2022 but faced struggles that landed him with a one-year, $13 million contract with the Mets, primarily motivated by the need to prove his worth. Despite past setbacks, Severino displayed resilience, striking out 161 batters across the 2023 season while allowing 23 home runs. His pitch arsenal, characterized by a high-velocity fastball and an effective slider, has shown that he still possesses the potential to be a standout pitcher. Rejecting a one-year, $21.05 million qualifying offer from the Mets, he aimed to evade draft-pick penalties and increase his market value, which has ultimately led him to this critical juncture in his career with the Athletics. The A's will also give up their third-highest pick in the 2025 draft as part of the compensation for signing Severino, underlining their commitment to revitalizing their team dynamics.