SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Athletics CEO David Forst said the team wants to make a statement when it arrives at its new home. This is one of the factors that led to his deal with Luis Severino.
Severino, 30, was officially introduced by his new club after finalizing a three-year, $67 million contract.
The veteran right-hander was a free agent for the second straight offseason after going 11-7 with a 3.91 ERA in 182 innings during his lone season with the New York Mets. These are his best numbers since he was an All-Star for the second straight year with the New York Yankees in 2018.
“I will give 100%. I’m going to be the best pitcher, person and teammate to help everyone be better,” Severino said after putting on a track and field jersey for the first time.
It’s the largest contract the low-budget A’s have ever signed, surpassing the $66 million deal for third baseman Eric Chavez from 2005-2010. Severino can opt out and become a free agent again after the 2026 season.
The Athletics went 69-93 for their third straight losing season in 2024, then left Oakland after 57 seasons. They plan to play the next three years in West Sacramento, California, before hoping to move to a new stadium in Las Vegas.
“We wanted to make some kind of statement coming to a new city and a new stadium,” Forst said. “But more than that, improving what we have. Hiring someone with Luis’ experience to become a leader was important to us.
Severino is 65-44 with a 3.81 ERA in 156 starts and 16 relief appearances for the Yankees (2015-23) and Mets.
Severino turned down a $21.05 million qualifying offer from the Mets, who will receive an additional pick after the fourth round of next July’s amateur draft. The Athletics will lose their third highest selection.
Severino, a two-time All-Star, toured his new ballpark and clubhouse to get a feel for the venue before the press conference. Sutter Health Park is being upgraded to prepare the Triple-A facility for the major leagues.
With the help of his sports agency, Severino said he researched the area to learn more about what it’s like in the summer. He also said his new teammates were the ultimate reason he considered playing at Northern California.
Outfielder Miguel Andujar spoke with Severino about the atmosphere in the clubhouse and the team’s personalities.
“(Andujar) told me how they treated each other, he told me he loved it there and he was excited for me,” Severino said. “That was the most important thing to me.”
