Luis Severino might not play for the Mets for the entire season. He isn’t, however, planning to leave New York.
When you combine his self-rebuilding efforts (3.48 ERA in nine starts, 51 2/3 innings) with the fact that the Mets are pointing to a squad that will struggle to contend this season, Severino could end up being a valuable trade piece come July 30.
Severino seemed like a good fit when Buster Olney discussed the possibility that the rapidly improving Yankees were looking to add a starting pitcher to bolster their depth with ESPN baseball writer Tim Kurkjian.
There seems to be a developing, interesting name there, but on May 12, I spotted Luis Severino. Tim, he’s improving; it seems like he’s getting better,” Olney stated on the Baseball Tonight podcast this past Friday.
You may end up like Nathan Eovalidi, I told him; you’re one of those players who had a terrific arm early in your career but eventually learned how to put it together.” As you are aware, Eovaldi changed from being something of an Iron Mike-type pitcher who could throw a pitch at 100 mph to a competent pitcher who understood movement and how to move the ball about.
Following our chat, I believe Severino has the potential to be that person. I wonder if the Yankees are interested in that guy because he is a skilled pitcher in New York.
Without Gerrit Cole, the Yankees are 33-15, and their rotation boasts the third-best ERA in MLB (3.00). There hasn’t been any pitching issues, but teams will always welcome having too many strong arms.
Early in the offseason, the Mets made Severino a one-year, $13 million contract, demonstrating their belief that Severino was a pitcher with potential who could be fixed. Severino was among baseball’s top pitchers in 2017–18. In 2017, after recording a 2.98 ERA over 193 1/3 innings, he finished third and was voted the Cy Young winner in both seasons. After that, he pitched 191 1/3 innings with a 3.39
However, since then, there has been a decline in effectiveness, availability, and health. Severino only pitched 209 1/3 innings from 2019 to 23. Severino had his worst pitching season in 2023, going 89 1/3 innings with a 6.65 ERA.
This season, Severino has been merely mediocre. Severino has evolved into a different pitcher, pairing a power sinker with his four-seam fastball to produce a career-high 55.8% ground ball rate, even though he still possesses devastating talent (his fastball is averaging 95.9 mph).
Despite making at least nine starts this season, his walk rate of 10.5% is the highest of his career, indicating that he has had difficulty controlling his game. After increasing from 18.9% to 20.1% this season, his strikeout rate is now the second lowest. His FIP is 3.97, while his projected ERA is 3.74.
“They were going to get him back,” Kurkjian declared. Yes, they would undoubtedly bring him back.
