Athletics general manager David Forst explained that the team wanted to make a statement as they moved into a new home, which was one reason behind their decision to sign Luis Severino.
The 30-year-old Severino was officially introduced by the Athletics on Friday after finalizing a $67 million, three-year contract.
Severino, a veteran right-handed pitcher, was a free agent for the second year in a row. He had an 11-7 record with a 3.91 ERA in 182 innings during his only season with the New York Mets, which were his best numbers since he made back-to-back All-Star appearances with the New York Yankees in 2018.
“I am going to give my 100%. I am going to be the best pitcher, person, and teammate to help everybody be better,” Severino said after wearing an Athletics jersey for the first time.
This is the largest contract in the history of the low-budget Athletics, surpassing the $66 million contract given to third baseman Eric Chavez for 2005-10. Severino has the option to leave and become a free agent again after the 2026 season.
The Athletics finished with a 69-93 record in 2024, marking their third consecutive losing season. After 57 years in Oakland, the team is moving and will play in West Sacramento, California, for the next three years before they hope to move into a new stadium in Las Vegas.
“We wanted to make something of a statement coming into a new city and coming into a new ballpark,” Forst said. “But more than that, to improve on what we have. Signing someone with Luis’s experience to be a leader was important to us.”
Severino has a career record of 65-44 with a 3.81 ERA in 156 starts and 16 relief appearances for the Yankees (2015-2023) and Mets.
Severino turned down a $21.05 million qualifying offer from the Mets, who will now receive an extra pick after the fourth round of next July’s amateur draft. The Athletics will lose their third-highest selection.
Severino, a two-time All-Star, toured his new ballpark and clubhouse to get a feel for the place before the news conference. Sutter Health Park is being upgraded to prepare the Triple-A facility for Major League Baseball.
With the help of his sports agency, Severino researched the area to learn more about the climate in the summer. He also mentioned that his new teammates were a key factor in his decision to play in Northern California.
Outfielder Miguel Andujar spoke with Severino about the team’s clubhouse atmosphere and the personalities of the players.
“(Andujar) told me how they treated each other, he told me that he loved it there, and he was excited for me,” Severino said. “That was the most important thing to me.”
