RHP Severino, a former Yankee, has faced the Mets.
On Wednesday, a former great from a neighboring borough started filling the void left by the Mets, who desperately needed starting pitching.
Severino, 29, has played with the Yankees for his whole eight-year career, including All-Star seasons during 2017 and 2018.
According to a source, the team and right-hander Luis Severino have reached an agreement upon a one-year, $13 million contract, making this the first significant signing of the David Stearns era.
Joey Wendle, an infielder, and the Mets reached an agreement on a one-year, $2 million agreement later on Wednesday. Since neither agreement is official yet, the team has not verified it.
However, in 2019, he had a right-sided rotator cuff strain, which led to Tommy John surgery in 2020. These ailments had a significant impact on him.
Severino has subsequently been impacted by lat and oblique ailments. He made 18 starts and had a 6.65 ERA in the previous season.
As a result, there are many possible outcomes to Severino in 2024. His fastball velocity puts him in the 88th percentile, making him one of the hardest-throwing pitchers in the game.
However, he hasn’t had a whole, healthy season in five years, and he had trouble all season long in ’23.
Severino is still a risk that the Mets should take, though, considering their desire to field a contender without signing too many more long-term deals.
Severino is still a few months shy of becoming 30 years old and, at his best, projects as an ace-caliber player. However, his injuries history and lack of success in recent years have forced teams to offer him a one-year contract.
In the worst case scenario, he represents a $13 million line item for a company that can afford such errors.
Right now, the Mets need every arm they can sign. Three starters on the club currently have guaranteed contracts: Severino, José Quintana, and Kodai Senga.
While other big-market teams will undoubtedly compete fiercely for the services of top Japanese free agent Yoshinobu Yamamoto, New York is one of the favorites to sign him.
The Mets are expected to sign multiple starting pitchers this winter, according to Stearns, the club’s new president of baseball operations.
Depending on how the remainder of the offseason plays out, this might mean signing two or three players to guaranteed contracts in addition to other players on Minor League contracts.
The deal, which Mark Feinsand of MLB.com first reported, has been confirmed by Andy Martino of SNY.
There are several stories stating that the agreement is for $13 million and one year. Severino may potentially be eligible for performance bonuses worth up to $2 million, based on sources.
With the Bombers this year, Severino had difficulty. Though he had an inconsistent career prior to this one, pitching to a 6.65 ERA in 7 seasons with a 3.39 ERA in 638 innings. The 29-year-old had numerous injuries, which contributed to the majority of his difficulties.
Over the course of three seasons, from 2019 to 22, he made a total of seven appearances (three starts), missing the whole 2020 campaign because of Tommy John surgery.
Severino’s 2023 campaign was again impacted by injuries, as he lost time at the start and finish of the season.
However, given his wasted potential with the Yanks, Severino presents the Mets with a potentially terrific signing if he can stay on the field.
Severino had two uneven seasons to begin his career before he burst into a stellar 14-6 record in 31 starts with a 2.98 ERA in 2017.
In 193.1 innings, he struck out 230 batters, a career best, and his WHIP was 1.04 during that season.
He would have an even more remarkable 2018 after that. He was 19-8 with a 3.39 ERA and 1.14 WHIP in 32 starts. In 191.1 innings, he also struck out 220 batters.
Severino finished third and ninth in the Cy Young voting in 2017 and 2018, respectively, despite being an All-Star in both seasons.