A's Secure Luis Severino in Surprising Multi-Year Deal

In a stunning move, the Oakland Athletics have agreed to a three-year, $67 million contract with free agent right-hander Luis Severino, as reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The deal includes a $10 million signing bonus and $57 million in salary over three years, with an opt-out clause after the second year, according to Yahoo's Russell Dorsey. Severino, represented by Klutch Sports, brings a significant boost to the A's pitching staff.

The news comes as a shock to many, given the A's nomadic status and their plans to play in West Sacramento's Sutter Health Park (home to the Giants’ Triple-A affiliate) next season. The A’s are in the midst of relocating to Las Vegas and have been aggressively pursuing free agents to elevate a payroll that had no guaranteed contracts for 2025 at the start of the offseason. Some free agents, including Walker Buehler, have dismissed the idea of playing in a minor league facility, yet the A’s have a reported target payroll of $100 million, suggesting they could be major players in free agency.

​The general consensus has been that the A’s would need to offer above-market deals to attract top-tier free agents this winter. The terms of Severino’s contract reflect this approach, with a higher guarantee than expected and an opt-out clause. Because Severino rejected a qualifying offer from the Mets, his signing will cost the A’s their third-highest draft pick next year, while netting the Mets a compensatory pick between the fourth and fifth rounds due to their luxury tax status.