Luis Severino is having himself a bounce-back campaign in the 2024 MLB season. Notwithstanding, Severino is well aware that his days with the New York Mets could be numbered.
The Mets are 34-37, winners of six straight games and eight of their last 10. At the turn of the month, things were not looking so up for the franchise. Saves came few and far between, and losses kept piling up for New York. This created an air of the Mets being likely sellers at the July 30 trade deadline.
Mets could deal stand-in ace Luis Severino by July 30 MLB trade deadline
Several players including J.D. Martinez and Pete Alonso have had their names in trade rumors. Severino’s recent comments suggest that his name, which has also been floated, is not set in stone on the Mets’ roster. Yet, he’s focused on proving that he deserved the one-year, $13 million deal he signed ahead of the 2024 campaign after a down 2023 showing, rather than dreading the tenuous nature that comes with the contract:
“I’m not really thinking about that right now,” Severino said about his uncertain future during a chat with Manny Gomez of NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. “There might be rumors out there but until my agent tells me, it’s nothing serious. A lot of the players (the Mets) signed were for one year. We knew that if we didn’t play well, it could happen.”
The Dominican pitcher is the best thing the Mets have going for them in their rotation at the moment. The year-old owns a .312 ERA with 60 strikeouts in 13 games. He has the cleanest ERA outside of Jose Butto (3.08) and the most strikeouts save Manaea (67) on the team.
Severino has been the de facto ace for the Mets while Kodai Senga rehabs a shoulder injury that has kept him out all year. Yet and still, the former New York Yankees talent could be moved in a deal that benefits the team.
- Mets decline $7.75 million club option for bullpen arm
- Mets analyst doesn’t think the team should be all-in on superstar free agent
- Mets sign interesting right-handed pitcher to major league deal
Severino may be of more use to the Mets on their roster
A widely circulated report from an unnamed American League executive stated that Severino will yield the Mets an “average” prospect in the trade market. Whether that’s enough to relinquish the former two-time All-Star, who could legitimately be a No. 2 arm for the Mets’ future, remains to be seen. Unless New York can get a better player in exchange for Severino, it may benefit the Mets to keep him.
Its not out of the realm of possibility for the franchise to finish as the sixth and final Wild Card team in the National League, especially with the stark peaks and valleys they’ve seen this season. They’ll need Severino as a crutch to Senga if they want to see that second-half surge come to fruition.
