According to reports, a number of teams are considering adding a former two-time All-Star from the New York Yankees to their starting lineup for 2024, including the New York Mets.
Many teams are trying to strengthen their starting rotations for the upcoming season as we approach the MLB offseason. Because the team shipped off its two best pitchers, Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer, before this summer’s trade deadline, the New York Mets are at the head of the pack.
This winter, a number of elite pitchers will be available as free agents, including Yoshinobu Yamamoto, a gifted Japanese pitcher, All-Star Sonny Gray, and National League Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell. Still, there are plenty of starting pitchers with upside who are available for less money.
Luis Severino, the starter for the New York Yankees, is one player who meets that requirement. Even though the eight-year veteran has suffered from injuries throughout his career and is coming off a poor 2023 campaign with a 6.65 ERA, he is still only 29 years old and has already made two trips to the All-Star game.
Luis Severino is the New York Mets’ primary free agent target.
Due to the latter information, the Dominican prospect is likely attracting a lot of attention this month on the open market. On Saturday, MLB reporter Will Sammon of The Athletic reported that “the Mets are among the teams that have shown interest in Luis Severino and plan to soon meet with the right-hander.”
All indications suggest that the Yankees won’t be expected to attempt to reinstate Severino after enduring the inconvenience of his extensive injury history for the previous eight seasons. This is good news for the New York Mets, who are reportedly looking to spread their money around and be a little more frugal with their offseason spending. Reports have it that the team is interested in signing multiple starting pitchers this winter.
2023 statistics for Luis Severino: 4-8, 6.65 ERA, 1.646 WHIP, 79 SO, 89.1 IP
Severino appeared to be a rising star who peaked in 2018 and 2019 when he was selected to consecutive All-Star games. But he’s not been the same player since needing Tommy John surgery. Teams with an interest in him may be hoping that his 7-3 record and 3.18 ERA in 2022 will be a sign that he can still be an elite pitcher in the future.