The newly moved Athletics made a surprising splash in free agency on Thursday, signing veteran right-handed starter Luis Severino to a three-year, $67 million contract per a report by ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The deal includes a $10 million signing bonus a $57 million contract over the next three seasons with an opt-out after the second season of the deal.

Severino, 30, was one of the top arms on the market after a strong rebound year on a $13 million contract with the New York Mets in 2024. In 31 starts, the most in a season since 2018, Severino tossed 182 innings and recorded a 3.91 ERA with a 21.2% strikeout rate and 7.9% walk rate. He recorded 11 wins and was a valuable and stable part of a Mets rotation that leaned heavily on him. His run prevention was highlighted by a 1.1 HR/9 and his new sweeper was one of the keys to his turnaround, holding hitters to a .139 average with a .238 SLG and inducing 60 strikeouts over 135 plate appearances. He went 2-1 in the postseason, allowing six earned runs in 16 2/3 innings over three starts.

It was a season that heralded back to Severino’s early career with the New York Yankees when he emerged as one of the top young starters in the game in 2017-18 thanks to a 3.18 ERA and 10.5 K/9. However, injuries derailed his career starting in 2019 and he struggled to stay on the field despite the promising results he’d produce while on the mound.  Over his final five seasons with the team, he managed to pitch only 209 1/3 innings and in 2023, his final season with the Yankees, he posted a career-worst 6.65 ERA with 23 homers allowed over 89 1/3 innings.

After the Mets went ahead and signed Frankie Montas to a two-year, $34 million contract, it became unlikely they would be willing to keep Severino around and he now heads to the west coast to a peculiar situation.

The A’s spent 2024 preparing to leave Oakland, their home since 1968, as plans to move to Las Vegas have still been sluggish. Needing a temporary stay until plans for a stadium in Las Vegas come to fruition, the A’s announced that they would spend 2025 and perhaps longer in Sacramento, playing at the facilities of the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats. The logistics of the A’s, who officially dropped the Oakland branding at the start of the offseason, sharing a stadium with an active minor league team isn’t likely to be an attractive destination for most free agents. There have been concerns about the amenities of the ballpark, including the location of the clubhouses for the teams.

The A’s have been on the lower end of the payroll scale for the past few years, and, considering their stadium situation, would have to overpay for the services of any free agent. By signing Severino, the A’s will lose their third-highest pick in next year’s draft because he rejected a qualifying offer from the Mets. He’ll also net the Mets a compensatory pick, albeit only between the fourth and fifth rounds because of their status as a luxury tax payor.

The deal also makes history as the largest contract in franchise history, surpassing the six-year, $66 million contract extension signed by third baseman Eric Chavez over two decades ago. The A’s have certainly shown some minor willingness to spend, and they made it clear they would be looking for pitching this winter.

The A’s rotation ranked 26th with a 4.76 ERA, 30th with a 4.74 xFIP and 29th with an 18.6% strikeout rate. In most pitching categories, they rank in the lower half of the league, often near the bottom. Severino immediately slots in as the de facto ace and will headline a rotation featuring JP Sears, Joey Estes. Mitch Spence and J.T. Ginn.

Despite all the buzz and turmoil off the field, the A’s have the makings of a solid roster that could take a nice step forward in 2025. Brent Rooker delivered a Top 10 finish in MVP voting while JJ Bleday and Lawrence Butler provided breakout years offensively to complement catcher Shea Langeliers’ 29-home run campaign. Additionally, Mason Miller’s emergence as an electric closer provided plenty of excitement for the A’s.

The A’s are reportedly aiming for a $100 million payroll for 2025 and currently are projected for a$58 million as it stands. More deals like the one for Severino could be in play as they overpay to draw in players for what will certainly be a peculiar season for the storied franchise.