The 30-year-old right-hander, is expected to decline the one-year, $21.05 million Qualifying Offer extended to him by the New York Mets, according to Will Sammon of The Athletic. While Severino has expressed his love for playing in New York, he is now poised to pursue a multi-year deal in free agency this offseason.
This marks Severino’s second stint on the free-agent market, after a turbulent 2023 season with the Yankees that saw him post a 6.65 ERA in 89.1 innings. The Mets took a chance on him with a one-year, $13 million deal, and he delivered solid, though unspectacular, results with a 3.91 ERA and 182 innings pitched in 2024. Those numbers, coupled with his consistency in the middle-to-back end of a rotation, position Severino as a strong candidate to land a multi-year deal in free agency.
Predictions for Severino’s next contract have ranged, but MLB Trade Rumors had previously projected a three-year, $51 million deal. This is in line with recent contracts awarded to similar veterans, including Michael Wacha, who signed a three-year deal with the Royals in 2024. Severino’s decline of the Qualifying Offer suggests he is seeking a longer-term commitment, and he could look for a deal similar to what Nathan Eovaldi received with the Rangers last offseason—a two-year deal with opt-out clauses.
Should Severino leave for another team, the Mets would receive a compensatory draft pick after the fourth round of the 2025 MLB Draft, as they paid the luxury tax in 2024. However, losing Severino further depletes the Mets’ rotation, which already faces uncertainty with fellow free agents Sean Manaea and Jose Quintana, leaving only Kodai Senga and David Peterson for the 2025 season.
In response, the Mets are likely to explore other rotation upgrades this winter, with top free-agent starters such as Corbin Burnes, Blake Snell, and Max Fried expected to hit the market. The Mets may also explore trades to bolster their starting staff, with names like White Sox southpaw Garrett Crochet already linked to the team.
Leave a Reply