The New York Mets are now hoping that two former New York Yankees will revive their careers after wearing out their welcomes across town, having signed one-year contracts with Harrison Bader and Luis Severino.
With the Mets, Luis Severino will attempt to regain his elite form.
Severino used to be an ace for the Yankees, pitching 193.1 innings in 2017 with a 2.98 ERA and 230 strikeouts. However, following eight seasons in the Bronx and a 2023 season that was cut short due to a serious oblique strain, the 29-year-old became a free agent and was given a $13 million, one-year shot to make a comeback with the Mets.
Severino will need to overcome more than just his injury history if he is to take advantage of that opportunity and have the kind of 2024 season that secures him a longer-term contract for the next one. He will have to deal with a pitch-tipping issue that has gotten worse since it was first brought up by Yankees manager Aaron Boone in 2018.
The Athletic reported,
“A couple of evaluators who monitored Severino closely last season said a tipping component made things challenging against some teams, leading him to be overly aggressive in the zone while not getting away with the same mistakes he had in previous seasons.”
A growing tipping issue may be the cause of some of Severino’s developing difficulties and his ERA, which skyrocketed to 6.65 in the previous season. The good news is that he has a chance to get back on track in 2024 with a new outfit if the issue is resolved.
Harrison Bader is visiting Queens with his Gold Glove.
In addition, the Mets have added Bader, who the Yankees obtained in 2022 from the St. Louis Cardinals in return for pitcher Jordan Montgomery. Last season, Bader was placed on waivers by the Yankees and ended up playing for the Cincinnati Reds.
Despite a lifetime slash line average of.243/.310/.396 due to struggles at the plate and injuries over the course of seven Major League Baseball seasons, Bader is a quality fielder playing a premium position in center field. He won the Gold Glove in 2021, and a new team’s strategy might help him hit better.
Jomboy Media’s Jack Oliver pointed out that Bader is far more effective against left-handed pitchers. Bader slashed.299/.361/.575 in 97 plate appearances against lefties in the previous season. He could end up being far more effective with the Mets than he was with the Yankees if used in a platoon split like this.
The Mets have two players with great upside who are one-year players in Bader and Severino. Both players will have the opportunity to play in New York for many years to come, even though they may not have a home with the Yankees anymore.