Luis Severino at crossroads: Leaving Yankees at season’s end?

Luis Severino was hailed by the media and teammates, including Aaron Judge, as the savior of the Yankees’ 4-2 victory over the Tigers in the opening series. Nevertheless, the outfielder’s future with the Yanks remains uncertain, as he could become a free agent due to his tumultuous journey with the team.

Entering 2023, Severino carried with him a less-than-ideal health history, yet he consistently delivered high-performance results when on the mound. Unfortunately, overall, this season has been disastrous for him. As of now, he has allowed 20 home runs, holds the worst K/BB ratio of his career, and has lost late movement on several of his offerings.

Consequently, the media speculates that a different organization with fresh coaching perspectives might assist him in adapting to his new limitations. CBS suggested that this situation will likely lead to a one-year “pillow contract” this winter.

Approaching the end of the season, Yankees fans find themselves constructing a timeline around Severino’s performance. After a poor showing against the Orioles in late July, Severino openly criticized himself as the worst pitcher in MLB. However, he seems to have regained his form and is proving to be a game-changer once again.

Understanding his contract with the Yankees

Every baseball player has dreamt of donning the iconic Yankees’ jersey, a testament to their dedication to the sport. The organization boasts the second-highest payroll in the league, and among the highest-paid players is Luis Severino.

In February 2019, the Yankees signed the promising young right-hander Luis Severino to a four-year, $40 million contract extension, which includes a $15 million club option for a fifth season. Before securing this deal, he delivered outstanding performances in 2017 and 2018, amassing over 190 innings of exceptional work. This effectively overshadowed his disappointing 2016 season (5.83 ERA) after his impressive 2015 MLB debut.

A series of unfortunate injuries forced Severino to miss the majority of the first three years of the extension. He made a successful comeback in the fourth year (2022), achieving a 3.18 ERA and 3.70 FIP across 22 starts. This prompted the Yankees to exercise their $15 million club option for 2023, but unfortunately, the challenges have resurfaced.

Retaining Severino for four years appeared to be an obvious decision, aligning well with Brian Cashman’s business predictions. Nonetheless, the player’s recent struggles raise questions. Is it too late for a resurgence, or should the Yankees grant him a chance to continue wearing the Bronx Bomber jersey?

What do you think? Leave your comment below.