The Athletics have long been known for their frugality in free agency, often steering clear of big-money contracts. A temporary move to Sacramento and a minor league ballpark had already deterred at least one free agent, and more than half of the players polled by The Athletic indicated that the A’s have a poor reputation in the league. Expectations were low for the club’s offseason activity.
However, the A’s made a surprising splash by signing pitcher Luis Severino to a three-year, $67 million contract, as reported by Jeff Passan of ESPN. The deal, which includes an opt-out after the second season, marks the largest free agent contract in A’s history, surpassing the three-year, $30 million contract given to Billy Butler in 2015.
Severino’s 2023 season was marred by injuries, leading him to sign a one-year deal with the Mets to regain his value. Despite not reaching his peak form from his time with the Yankees, Severino posted a respectable 3.91 ERA and 1.242 WHIP over 182 innings, with 161 strikeouts and 60 walks.
Now, Severino is set to take on the role of staff ace for the rebuilding Athletics. While pitchers like J.P. Sears, Joey Estes, and J.T. Ginn have shown potential, general manager David Forst emphasized that pitching was a top priority in free agency. The A’s were expected to target short-term contracts for pitchers looking to re-establish themselves, such as Walker Buehler.
The signing of Severino fulfills part of the A’s promise to increase their payroll to at least $100 million, a franchise record, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today. This move could signal the start of a surprisingly active offseason for the A’s as they navigate their transition in Sacramento.
