The Athletics have signed Luis Severino to a surprising three-year, $67 million contract, making him the highest-paid player in franchise history.
Oakland: Can you believe it? The Athletics just made Luis Severino their highest-paid player ever! He signed a three-year deal worth $67 million. It’s wild, right? This guy is heading to Sacramento, or wherever the team ends up playing.
So, who is Severino? He had a rough patch but turned things around last season with the Mets. He hadn’t pitched much since 2018 and had a tough 2023 with a 6.65 ERA. But then he surprised everyone with a solid 3.91 ERA and 161 strikeouts over 182 innings. He even became a bit of a team leader, carrying around a sign that said ‘OMG’ and posing with it after big moments.
Now, let’s talk about his pitching. Severino had to change his style due to injuries. He used to throw fastballs that could reach 99 MPH, but those days are behind him. The Mets encouraged him to use his sinker more, and it became a key pitch for him. He did well against right-handed batters but struggled against lefties, which is a concern.
Looking ahead, there’s a chance that last season was the best we’ll see from him. He had a great setup with the Mets, but the Athletics are a different story. Their defense was one of the worst last season, which won’t help Severino, especially since he doesn’t strike out a lot of batters.
His one bright spot could be his new sweeper pitch, which the Mets helped him develop. It was one of the best pitches in baseball last season, but he didn’t use it enough. If he can lean on that more, he might find some success.
As the highest-paid player, Severino is expected to be the ace of the Athletics. He’ll likely start on opening day and be pushed to pitch as many innings as possible. This could be good for his fantasy value, assuming he stays healthy.
It’s a bit ironic that the Athletics are finally spending money when they’ve been known for their poor ownership. But Severino brings experience and leadership to a young team that really needs it.
In conclusion, Severino is a decent pitcher, but there are big questions about his health and how he’ll perform away from the Mets. He might get more chances to pitch, which could help, but I’d be cautious about drafting him too high. There are other options with similar risks but more upside.