The Athletics aren't just making moves with their team relocation, they're taking action with their roster ahead of the 2025 MLB season.
The team agreed to a three-year contract with right-handed pitcher Luis Severino, as it officially announced in a press release Friday morning. The third year is a player option for the 2027 season.
ESPN's Jeff Passan first reported the news Thursday, citing sources, adding that the deal is worth $67 million.
The Athletics will hold an introductory press conference for Severino at 2 p.m. PT on Friday in Sacramento. NBC Sports California will stream it live.
The deal is the largest free-agent contract in Athletics franchise history, per Passan, and it included a $10 million signing bonus and opt-out clause following the second season.
Severino, 30, spent the 2024 season with the New York Mets following a nine-year career with the New York Yankees. He held an 11-7 regular-season record last season and started three playoff games for the Mets. In 182 innings over 31 starts -- his most since 2018 -- he posted a 3.91 ERA and 1.24 WHIP.
He was a key part of the Mets' rotation all 2024, and valuable throughout the postseason, pitching 16.2 innings and giving up six earned runs.
Oakland Athletics
New York extended Severino a one-year, $21.05 million qualifying offer. He rejected it, and the Athletics, who went into the offseason seeking pitching, per Passan, came calling.
In signing Severino, the Athletics forfeit their third-highest pick in the 2025 draft, Passan added, but intend to bump their payroll into the $100 million range. Since the Mets exceeded the competitive-balance-tax threshold last season, they will receive a compensation pick after the fourth round worth just over $500,000 in draft bonus-pool money, per Passan.
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There is a lot of change ahead for the Athletics, and adding Severino into the mix is proof of just that.
