TODAY: The Yankees officially announced that Severino’s option has been exercised.
NOVEMBER 4: During a press conference this afternoon, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said that the club will pick up their $15MM option on right-hander Luis Severino. Bryan Hoch of MLB.com was among those to relay the news on Twitter.
The news of the decision is not terribly shocking, as Severino is a bargain at that price as long as he’s healthy. After a couple of excellent seasons in 2017 and 2018 where Severino tossed over 190 innings in each and registered an ERA around 3.00 both times, he and the club agreed to a four-year, $40MM extension prior to 2019.
Unfortunately, the club hasn’t been able to recoup much on that investment so far. Various shoulder injuries limited Severino to just 12 innings in 2019, which was followed by Tommy John surgery in February of 2020. He eventually returned late in 2021, throwing just six innings, meaning he only threw 18 total frames over the first three years of the extensi0n.
In 2022, Severino was finally healthy for an extended stretch, though he did go on the 60-day IL from mid-July to mid-September due to a lat strain. Still, he was able to take the ball 19 times and throw 102 innings with a 3.18 ERA. He struck out 27.7% of batters faced while walking just 7.4% and getting grounders on 44.3% of balls in play. He also made two postseason starts and added another 11 innings there. While he hasn’t totally put the injury concerns behind him, that was still much more encouraging than anything the Yankees had seen from him since 2018.
The $15MM club option came with a $2.75MM buyout, making this a net $12.25MM decision. That number is only a few ticks above what a backend, innings-eating starter might get on the open market. For instance, Zack Greinke signed with the Royals for one year and $13MM and the Cubs claimed Wade Miley off waivers in order to pick up his $10MM club option. Severino has shown himself capable of being a front-end rotation member, making it an easy call to pick up that option.
Going forward, Severino should slot into a Yankee rotation that is already quite strong. Gerrit Cole, Nestor Cortes Jr. and Severino should form a solid front three. Frankie Montas dealt with shoulder issues this year but can be retained via arbitration for 2023 and should be slotted in as long as he’s recovered. That leaves a fifth spot open, with Domingo Germán and Clarke Schmidt both on hand as solid options for that. While most teams usually go into the offseason with major question marks in their rotations, the Yankees seem poised to be able to focus their attentions elsewhere, with the most obvious question being whether or not they can convince Aaron Judge to stay in the Bronx.
For Severino, he has one more season to try to put the injury concerns behind him before he heads to free agency for the first time in his career. Despite the setbacks, he is still in a good place for a nice payday since he will turn 29 in February and be a free agent going into his age-30 season. He’ll be looking to have a strong campaign in 2023, both to help the team win and to go into the open market on a high.
It’s definitely best for the Yankees to Sever in other places
You can say that again.
That again.
For all you Yankee fans that said Sevvy’s club option wasn’t going to be picked up. This is all for you.
Who said that?
At least half of Yankee fans on here.
Sure didnt see that. Maybe somewhere else?
It’s definitely best for the Yankee to Sever in other places
To sever; divide by cutting or slicing, especially suddenly and forcibly:
Ouch, sounds like a circumcision, let’s cut this dick from the team…
26 games in four years, but definitely the right move.
Injuries are always an issue with Sevy but where is law are you getting a SP with his upside for $15MM?
There’s no upside if he can’t be on the field
I’ll gladly take what Sevy gives for $15MM over paying that same amount to a No.4 SP
But he kind of is a number 4 starter. Maybe number 3. But honestly he seems more like a middle relief guy now. Not the same pitcher he was 3 years ago
You’re clueless
What gives you that thought? Just curious – as I have not seen he would be better as a mid-relief role.
The right move. I’m happy for Sevy. Even if it’s more of a loyalty thing where they’re giving him the extra $15M in case he can’t stay healthy and wouldn’t have made that much going forward on rebound deals before an early retirement.
Impressive that he basically only pitched 3/4 of a full season for $30.935M across 120 innings over 26 games and 22 starts and he still got the option picked up.
I hope he bounces back big and gets to 32 starts and 180-ish innings with a sub 4 ERA and they extend him like 4 years/$80M.
Easy decision. Half a season from Severino is probably worth $15 million, and he’s bound to stay healthy one of these years.
Most likely the year before free agency. That seems to be how it goes.
This year they kept him out an extra month to fool with the roster. I thought he might file a grievance, but they must’ve appeased him. He was ripped when he found out he wasn’t being activated, but extended time on the DL.
Why would he file a grievance? He stayed on the MLB roster so he got paid his full salary while on the 60 day-IL and accrued full service time as well. The Yankees were smart to place him on the 60 day-IL as lat injuries tend to reoccur if the player isn’t fully healed. I know he felt like he could have come back sooner but it worked out in the end.
His future earning power will be affected by his injury history. If the Yanks kept him out while he was healthy, he could file a grievance.
I have no idea of that was actually the case, just throwing it out there.
@ HalosHeavenJJ – I kind of see your point but would argue that the 18 innings in 3 previous seasons might allow the Yankees to protect their investment?
At a tangent the one that I thought was going to result in a grievous was Jed Lowrie & his arguments over his needing knee surgery which the Mets disagreed. The result was $20 million over two seasons for 8 at bats.
@Trillionaire – I get see your optimistic one season in 2023 but that and about 1 season over the previous four years translation into $80 over four.??? He is very decent when fit – it just hasn’t been very often. Even with a clean season I’d be offering 2 with an option. Compare what Nola in Phillie might get paid……..
It’s definitely best for the Yankees to Sever in other places
Most overrated pitcher in baseball. The Yankees are delusional
we know their fans sure are
Idiot
I mean prove me wrong lol.
Booing your own players.
Chanting F*** whatever player’s name from the other team all game
Calling other teams cheaters, when your team has cheated more than any in baseball.
It’s all pretty comical how clueless and trashy that fanbase is.
Most teams fans do the first two things you mentioned. The idea that the Yankees cheat more than everyone else is baseless and ignorant. And Severino was worth holding on to.
Remember that time that the entire crowd at Yankee Stadium booed Judge and chanted “F__ ____!”
No, you don’t. It never happened. As with the few racists hurling the N-word at visiting players at Fenway, and the idiots throwing batteries at visiting players at old Shea Stadium, and the hooligans who nearly killed a visiting Giants fan at Dodger Stadium, it’s always a minority engaging in that trashy behavior. And if you don’t know that, your powers of observation are wanting. And if you do know that but still paint an entire fan base with the same broad brush, you’re deliberately dishonest, Rocker49.
Thanks for that Pink.
How exactly is he overrated? I get he was injured for a long time but based on his stats how is he overrated?
He’s overrated because Jobe doesn’t like the Yankees.
Yes far from being overrated. Sevvy’s arm got stronger towards the end of last season. He’s definitely worth $15 million annually.
Especially if he stays healthy for a major part of the season.
Even if you think he’s overrated, which might have a tiny bit of merit, it’s pretty hard to call them delusional for paying him 15 million over one season.
Yankees make wayyyyyyy too much money to live rent free in your head bub
He’s a good arm. They’re better with him than without him, provided they upgrade from Taillon who probably won’t be back. They also need Montas to settle in and stay healthy. It’s a tall order but not impossible.
1. Cole
2. *Upgrade via trade
3. Cortes
4. Severino
5. Montas
There’s definitely some upside here.
This was a slam dunk decision by NY. Even with his injury history, Severino showed enough upside this season where he’d get paid $20M/yr for multiple years if NY let him walk. There’s no one else available for $15M who brings as much talent and promise as Severino does.
Yes, the Yanks finished with the 7th best pitching in baseball this year. Pitching is one of their strong points moving forward. The first half of the season they were #1. Judge is leading this dance, his signing will dictate the direction they move this winter. Yanks need to add a quality starter, Taillon was good last season for the Yanks, they will try and replace him with a better pitcher. The trades for all teams this winter coulld be key. It is the best way to change a team for the better. Most free agents can’t meet expectations money wise, or on the field.
3
Agree with all except exactly who can replace Taillon that is a “better pitcher”?
Rodon, Verlander, anyone else will have to be a trade and that’s always dicey for the Yankees….Taillon has proven he’s healthy, has proven a successful year, and can pitch an outstanding game once in awhile, and is best suited as a #3-4 starter which is exactly what the Yankees need……AND he has proven he can pitch in NY which. probably isn’t the same truth for Montas who I would ship out ASAP…..the money Taillon would cost is probably less than Rondon and Verlander for sure and would be well spent.
I personally think they need to keep Montas. Its a total waste of the prospects they gave up for him if they don’t even give him a chance to settle in next season. Lots of guys struggle with a new team in year one and then bounce back in year two.
Yankees have a tough off-season ahead. Need to find a way to keep Judge, but that will cost a fortune. Probably need to re-sign Benintendi and maybe Rizzo (although DJ could probably handle 1B). And they need a reliable 2 behind Cole. Cortes was great but threw a career high in innings. Severino had his first moderately healthy season in years. Montas was terrible and hurt. If everything clicks, it’s a great rotation. Big if though.
Severino should be the closer. He cant stay healthy for a full season and he lives for the hype. He can have all the hype he wants as a closer and doesnt need to pitch 100 innings. This is also his final year so if he becomes an insane closer, hell get Chapman money. Oh, and NYY needs a closer.
Is there really any evidence that this plan would lead to less injury risk? Plus, he better be lights out as a one inning guy at that price.
He can’t stay healthy, he loves the hype and can barely make it past 6innings and he’s due for major money next offseason. I don’t know how anyone can imagine him being a future SP so why not try it. Others have had the same “issues” and converted beautifully.
Very very few pitchers make it through six innings these days though. It is an interesting idea but, like I say, that’s a lot to pay for a decent closer. He’d have play at an all star level for it to be worthwhile
Also 2 years ago in the playoffs (I posted my comment last offseason) he was insane out of the pen for the Yankees
He didn’t pitch at all during the 2020 season, Sevy is not a reliever.
I’m 2021 he pitched in 6 games all out of the bullpen with 0 runs and 9ks
And in 2022, he pitched 102 innings with a 3.18 ERA.
He’s not going to be moved to the bullpen.
No he is not, that is one thing I am sure of in the Yankees universe, other than Steinbrenner, Cashman and Aaron Boone are going nowhere.
This is a no brainer. We knew this was going to occur. Sevy is worth retaining for another year. Hopefully he will remain healthy( for a change).
This is probably one of the rare good moves that they will make. I’m sure Cashman will be retained also unfortunately, and we already know unfortunately coolers Boone will be here again.
Luis Severino is a front of the rotation starter who has ran into arm problems just like what seems to be a large part of the pitching population in the sport. I’m not against extending him, if he’s willing to do it. German and Schmidt provide depth early on in the rotation if Torres isn’t dealt for a starter as part of a package.
I’d definitely see if Torres+ can net a #2. They should be more than deep enough otherwise.
3B: Donaldson
SS: Peraza
2B: DJ
1B: Rizzo
UTL: Cabrera
UTL: IKF
Minors: Volpe
A no brainer. They still need another starter, and two or three bullpen pieces. To me Torres and German can be dealt for some pitching/bullpen depth. Donaldson should be gone, but it doesn’t sound like they want to part ways with the soon to be 37 year old. Hick’s uniforms should be burnt, and all traces of him gone in 2023.
NY would love to get rid of Donaldson but there is no team willing to trade for him at this point in his career. They are stuck with his $27M for 2023. The same goes for Hicks. They still owe him $30M+ for the next 3 seasons and no team is going to trade for him even if the Yankees pick up 50% of his salary.
If they somehow figure out how to move one of these guys, the return they would get for either one would be nominal and the Yankees would need to eat a big part of their salary unless it is a bad contract swap.. I could see NY releasing Hicks after next season but he’ll be their 4th OF in 2023. They are stuck with him and his bloated contract for at least one more season.
Of course the first 3 years (using hindsight) were bad financially, but for 2023, at a net 12 mil, it’s a no brainer.
As stated, a lot of guys on the street would cost the same, not have nearly the upside, and well, isn’t the worry of a future injury present with every pitcher out there in today’s MLB?
I’m definitely not a yankee fan and no, for the other poster, I don’t think very many fan bases boo and f you their own players as it was suggested.
That is a Yankee, Dodger kind of thing. Entitled comes to mind.
I’m good with the Yankee Stadium booing. Seems like a culture thing and that’s ok. But booing Judge after what he did this year was a bridge too far. Out of pure fairness, your memory has to last longer than 10 days. Makes the fan love he received just prior look insincere. Anyhow, I hope he was super pissed about it and goes to the Giants.
The Yanks are in pretty good position moving into the winter. There pitching looks better than it has the last 5 years. The young infielders in Volpe, Peraza, and Cabrera look to be knocking on the door in 23, and they have 2 good outfield option for 24 in Dominquez and Jones.. Signing Judge will take up most of their time, along with Rizzo. If they get both back they will be top contenders again next year. If not they will have to sign another star player, and a top starting and relief pitcher. DJ also could be a good option at first if they don’t land Rizzo!
Paint is starting to crack. Yankees are where the Red Sox were about 5 years ago, sans championships. Better win soon.
Winter is Coming!
That was my thinking about 6 years ago. They had Sanchez, Judge, Bird, maybe Andujar, Severino & Montgomery all coming in with talent and a lot of control years. And they already had Tanaka, Pineda, Chapman, Betances, & Didi in their prime. I was pretty sure they’d squeeze a WSC out of that group. They will always be a threat, but I thought that group of prospects was about as good as it gets.
No comparison, the Sox have finished last in the division with the same talent. Yanks make the playoffs every year.!
Pretty sad when you exercise a $15M option on a pitcher who has not been relevant in nearly 5 years. Wow.
Are you counting the time he had Tommy John, Sevy had a 3.16 ERA coming off Tommy John not too bad. He had a FIP of 3.33 better than many starters in the East Nasty Nestor 3.64, and guys like Berrios 4.50. Pivetta, Watcha, and Hill in the 4s!
Paying a guy 55 million to sit down and watch baseball games, these owners must get hot flashes at night. The owner of the Orioles is probably having nightmares everynight just thinking ot that Chris Davis contract
It surpasses Ellsbury as the worst contract in sports history
@Yanks2 The only contract in sports history that might be worse than Chris Davis’s is John Wall’s in basketball. He got paid over 200 million and played in maybe 50 -60 games. Dudes a bum
Hindsight is always 20/20, you can’t win a championship without taking some risk, look at the Rays! There biggest risk, was this year with Franco, and right away he gets injured. Franco has a team friendly deal. All the teams that have won have taken huge risks to do so!
If you’re referring to Davis – This is an incredibly flawed argument given how Davis’ contract was thought of even when it was signed.
This is a desperate move, similar to like if the Red Sox re sign Rich Hill again. Picking up his option is admitting next season is going to be a failure
Besides the long layoff, what is it you don’t like about Severino and his very good ’22?
Always gets yanked from high leverage games in the 2nd or 3rd inning. Crumbles under pressure. Lets his emotions get the best of him. Also, his injury history. Hasn’t been the same pitcher since his 2 years on the IL. He used to he top 5 best in baseball
Picking up his option is admitting next season is going to be a failure
================================
Because his 7-3 and 3.18 is going to doom the team for all eternity?
If Cashman expected Severino to be impactuful he would’ve signed him for more than one season
Thats what i would like fo see. The yankees bring back Tanaka
What’s Hideki Matsui up to these days?
@Yanks2 – How is this a desperate move? Severino has #2 starter talent and had a really good season in 2022. Paying him a net $12.5M for another season is a slam dunk in my books. Even if they only get 120-140 innings pitched out of him, he’ll be well worth the money. He’ll only be 29 years old too, so he has plenty of gas left in the tank.
Like most, big fan when he’s healthy, but he’s just not most of the time. I wonder if they didn’t pick up the option what somebody realistically would have paid. I saw someone say multi year at 20m a year which I think is a bit delusional. Teams are pretty hesitant to commit like that to injury prone players.
Taillon is 31, a 6’5, 230 lb. righty, and a player who was the second overall pick out of high school, coming off a season in which he posted a 4.72 K/BB ratio, 7.7 K/9, and a 1.13 WHIP over 180 Innings. Those are really good numbers.
Picking up Severino was not a no brainer with Taillon in FA, a tough decision if it was one or the other, because Taillon likely looking for a long term deal at 15M to 20M AAV as well.
You really can’t do much better in FA unless your after DeGrom, Verlander, Kershaw, or Rodon, the top arms in the class, all will command big pay days.
It’s a strong FA class in regards to the starting pitchers that will be available, picking up Severino at 15M has been deemed a value, sets the market for Taillon and the others in a way. All of whom should be at or above this market.
Big questions for the Yanks, how will Judge break the bank? Will he leave any Wheaties for Rizzo, Benintendi, Carpenter, Taillon? Or is he going to eat the whole box?
Taillon has been exactly league average with an ERA+ of 100 over the last two seasons. Severino has an ERA+ of 123 which is similar to his ERA+ of 126 career. I like Taillon but he’s not a difference-maker for this team. They need a pitcher with a higher upside to eat up those innings.
Taillon has gotten past two TJ’s, which is not easy, but he is coming off a 180 IPs, should give him a lot of confidence coming into ’23, he could still add a little velocity at 31, when he is fully confident in his arm, he could let it fly. He has excellent command of five pitches, and he’s built like Verlander who won the Cy Young at 39.
Ok, but he’s NOT Verlander. There have been plenty of pitchers built like him that totally flamed out. Unsurprisingly, it takes a lot more than body type to be successful in MLB.
The point is durability, he doesnt throw 99 in the seventh inning like Verlander either, but having a big build from the perspective of being a superior athlete in terms of strength and power is an advantage.
Now there are some small guys throwing the ball 100 mph, Dylan Cease and Spencer Strider come to mind, similar pitchers, but they are thin and wirey guys, I’d be hard pressed to see them throwing with that velocity into their mid thirties.
With Taillon, he is big, has a long delivery, throws with good velocity well within his capabilities, which is one reason for his excellent control. He has a very repeatable motion to the plate, and throw low nineties with ease, and will likely be able to do so into his late thirties partly because of his size.
Cole, Severino and Montas are also big bodied. I personally think Taillon is the best pitcher of the group but obviously the numbers don’t support this sentiment.
I wouldn’t compare Taillon to Sevy, to me Cole is in the upper class, with a good playoff record and solid in season pitching. A healthy Montas is a solid #2, Sevy looks to be a solid #2-3 next year. I put Nasty Nestor in the same category as Sevy with his limited experience and lack of wipe out stuff. Taillon fits in as a #5 on the Yankee rotation next season, and I see him as an upgrade over German or Schmidt, but they could be good enough and cost much less than Taillon.
Cole has the best stuff, no question about that, Montas has some wicked movement on his pitches too, just watched some highlights, Montas has a nice motion to the plate and hides the ball really well. That’s a shortcoming of Taillon’s, his length makes it more difficult to hide the ball. It’s hard to say Taillon is the best of the group, there is some fandom in that statement, he was one of the pitchers I followed last season, but I believe in his ability to improve on last seasons numbers for the reasons I stated.
Five Aces really, Cortes to me has the most potential to fall off with that herky jerky stop motion delivery and a straight arrow fast ball but his command and location are somehow fantastic.
Yanks should have given the closer role back to Chapman late in the season and held onto him, resign Taillon, with German, Schmidt, King, Holmes and Chapman, that is a helluva pitching staff.
“Yanks should have given the closer role back to Chapman late in the season and held onto him…”
—————————————
They did try as Clay Holmes was pushing through from injury recovery/fatigue. Chapman was ineffectively wild and didn’t know where the ball was going. He also missed time for a tattoo infection which was entirely preventable had he chosen to ink up in the off-season. Then decided to not show up for work when he wasn’t sure if he would be added to the playoffs roster. That shows you where his head space was. You’re not more important than the other 25 guys battling through during your avoidable absence.
I don’t know how it all played out, he was disgruntled, I’m sure it had to do with the fact that he lost his job to Holmes.
I’d think he something left in the tank though, if he puts it all behind him and gets back on the mound. Whether that’s with the Yankees or with another team is yet to be seen.
Of course it does. But it doesn’t excuse his behavior. Chapman can still dial up his fastball but it won’t be with the Yankees.
They should mo him into the closer’s role.
They only reason I don’t want to resign Taillon is that they have both German and Schmidt ready to fill the vacancy. We need to see what either of those guys can do as regular starters. And they won’t be worse than Taillon. Severino will also be a free agent soon.
Taillon looks like a Yankee, mean looking, I like Taillon.
Schmidt should be DFA’d due to his horrendous performance in the post season
Schmidt showed great improvement this year, he was just put in the wrong spot due to all the injuries to the relief this year. He got some valuable experience. You could make a case, that at this time last year he wasn’t even in the picture. Chapman, Britton, and Green would have been their top 3 relief pitchers along with Johnny Lo. As it turned out they were the best team in baseball the first half with Holmes, King, in the 8th and 9th.
He made 21 starts last year and didn’t want to go on the 60 day. Hopefully gives you 25 next year. Front end stuff. Charlie Morton just got extended for 20 mil. A no brainer
Most overrated pitcher baseball other than the Yankees nobody would sign him
Show us on the doll where Severino hurt you
Since Greinke was mentioned, is he the only contemporary pitcher who might pitch himself OUT of the Hall of Fame?
3,000 innings with an ERA+ of 125 seems about the line (unless you’re Jack Morris, apparently), and Greinke was at 125 with 2,939 innings at the end of 2020. Granted his rWAR puts him in the Hall, but pitching WAR is funny, and a less reliable guide than it is for position players.
Now he’s at 123 and 3,247, and that ERA+ isn’t going to get higher.
Easy call. He’s really good when healthy, the cost isn’t very high, and you can never have enough pitching.
IMO the next choice for the Braves after Dansby
Expected. The Yankees pitching is good. They need to even out the offense.
That’ll end up being about $1.5M per start? No bargain.
I love Sevy, but if I’m the Yankees……he’s my CLOSER next year. In 29 career innings coming out of the pen, he has a 0.31 ERA.. Having him lock down games moves Holmes, Loaisiga and King down to form a possibly league best pen. Also should keep him healthier which is the key to this.
Make him a closer please.