Luis Severino's deal with the A's further inflates the starting pitching market

After one year with the Mets, the righty is headed west on an overpay by the A's

What’s Up with the Mets? 🍎

• RHP Luis Severino signed a three-year deal with the Athletics worth $67 million. The Mets gain a draft pick after the fourth round in next year’s draft (ESPN)

• Before signing Severino, the A’s made a big offer to Sean Manaea (New York Post)

• The Mets are fielding calls on INF Brett Baty (New York Post)

• Both the Yankees and Mets are waiting on Juan Soto before pivoting to Willy Adames (SI.com)

• Once Soto signs, the market for Pete Alonso should heat up (MLB.com)

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Rumor Mill 💨

• The Yankees, Blue Jays, Red Sox, Giants, and Orioles are considered to be the top contenders for Corbin Burnes (Heyman)

• The Yankees, Mariners, and Astros have all checked-in with the Cubs about a potential trade for Cody Bellinger (670 The Score)

• Both Josh Naylor and Lane Thomas could be made available in trades by the Guardians (Athletic)

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Luis Severino’s deal has further inflated the starting pitching market… ✍️

NY Post

After a nice bounceback season with the Mets, Luis Severino got a nice payday from the Athletics. His three-year, $67 million contract is the largest guaranteed deal in Athletics history, and according to Jeff Passan of ESPN, it is well above what Severino was expected to get.

I think it was well above anyone thought Severino was going to get, but his market was helped immensely by the Angels’ overpay of LHP Yusei Kikuchi, who received three years and $63 million from them last week.

Good for Severino getting paid, but unfortunately for teams that are in need of pitching, the prices just went up a lot.

This still applies to the Mets even after they signed Frankie Montas to a two-year, $34 million deal. Montas is more of a fourth or fifth starter, and the team still needs a top-of-the-rotation arm. But it’s worth mentioning Montas’s salary is higher than that of either Severino or Sean Manaea from 2024.

The good news for David Stearns and the organization is that there are plenty of arms still available on the eve of the Winter Meetings. A reunion with Manaea is still possible, but it is still unknown what number the Athletics offered the lefty. He has definitely earned a raise after a stellar 2024 season, so the Mets will need to consider if he fits into their long-term plans or if they want to spend their money elsewhere.

You have to figure Manaea could be in for a deal in the four-year, $90 million range now.

The Mets could follow last year’s blueprint and sign low-cost, high-upside arms again, but that strategy remains risky. For every Sean Manaea and Luis Severino, there is an Adrian Houser who, if you recall, was acquired from the Brewers in a trade last winter only to get designated for assignment mid-year after an ineffective tenure with the Mets.

They could also go the trade route, like for Garrett Crochet, but with the starting pitching market prices rising, they might find some competition with teams seeking lower-cost options, and that competition will only serve to drive up the prospect capital required to swing such a trade.

Obviously, their main priority is Juan Soto, and he might influence how the rest of their offseason plays out. If he signs with the Mets, do they still go big for one of the top pitchers on the market or do they go for the cheaper reclamation projects?

With the addition of Soto, they could try and outslug their opponent on any given day, but the team still needs arms no matter what. They just now know what the cost is going to be.

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Around the League 🚩

• Dodgers’ first baseman Freddie Freeman underwent surgery on his ankle and his expected to be ready for spring training (ESPN)

• The St. Petersburg City Council approved the bonds necessary to finance a new stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays (ESPN)

• The Astros offered Alex Bregman a new contract worth $156 million over six years (MLB.com)