The Mets Take a One-Year Flyer on This Veteran Pitcher

Mets Sign Luis Severino

Severino struggled mightily last season in terms of performance and health. In 19 outings (18 starts) across 89 1/3 innings, Severino produced a 6.65 ERA (65 ERA+). He had two injured list stints due to a lat and side injury. The 29-year-old suffered from his 18.9 strikeout percentage, the worst of his career and well below the league average.

However, Severino comes with several years of great production. Before 2023, the righty had a 3.39 career ERA in 122 games with a great 10 K/9. His overall production was 26 percent better than the league average, per ERA+.

How the Deal Fits the Mets

The Mets will sign Severino, once a budding ace, to a low-risk, one-year deal hoping for a rebound. The team has 12 40-man roster spots open and at least three rotation spots available. As of now, Severino will slot into the second or third spot in the rotation, though he will likely slide down if the Mets acquire higher upside arms as expected. If they help bring him back to his old ways, Severino in the back of the Mets rotation could represent the steal of the offseason.

While many feel his 2023 struggles could be just a blip, Severino’s injury history is a real concern. He has not pitched in 20 games since 2018, which was the second of two straight seasons of more than 30 starts. Despite the injuries, which have impacted his elbow, shoulder, and lat, Severino has continued to throw hard. His four-seam fastball velocity ranked in the 88th percentile last year with a slightly above-average spin rate.

The Mets are not making this deal expecting Severino to be a workhorse ace. The deal should be considered a success if he can pitch around 150-175 innings at a quality closer to his career norms.

This is the biggest move of the nascent David Stearns era in Queens. Stearns added a high-upside arm who, if he pitches well, can either help the Mets get a Wild Card spot or be flipped at the deadline. It’s a move that sacrifices no aspect of the team’s future while setting up moves that can possibly help down the road.