As Thanksgiving prep was heating up in kitchens across the country, the Mets quietly added a new name to their organizational depth chart, signing left-hander Anderson Severino to a minor league deal. It’s a move that may not shake the offseason landscape, but it’s got a little bit of everything-family ties, a long road back to the majors, and a bullpen picture that’s still very much in flux.
Yes, Anderson is the cousin of former Mets starter and current A’s right-hander Luis Severino. And while the two share a last name and a Yankee origin story, their paths through pro ball have been anything but identical.
Anderson first signed with the Yankees back in 2013, about a year and a half after Luis joined the organization. But unlike his cousin, who quickly climbed the ladder to big-league stardom, Anderson spent seven years in the Yankees’ system without ever advancing beyond High-A. After the 2020 minor league season was wiped out by the pandemic, he elected free agency and hit the reset button.
The White Sox gave him a shot in 2021, and he spent that year shuttling between Double-A and Triple-A before finally breaking through to the majors in April 2022. His debut came in a game against the Mariners, where he tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings, striking out three and walking one.
It was a solid first impression, even if it came in a 5-1 loss. He struggled over his next few outings-five earned runs across three appearances-but finished his brief MLB stint with two more scoreless outings.
In all, Severino logged 7 1/3 innings for Chicago that April, finishing with a 6.14 ERA before being sent back down and eventually designated for assignment in September.
Since then, Severino has taken his talents to the international circuit, pitching in the Mexican League and the Dominican Winter League. His 2025 season with Acereros de Monclova was particularly encouraging: a 2.68 ERA over 43 appearances, with an 11.2 K/9 and 4.9 BB/9.
He also impressed in winter ball with Tigres del Licey, where he posted a microscopic 0.98 ERA in 23 outings. That recent success-combined with the Severino name-likely played a role in the Mets giving him a look.
Let’s be real: Severino isn’t walking into camp with a clear path to the Opening Day roster. The Mets’ bullpen picture is already crowded, and with A.J.
Minter expected to start the season on the injured list, Brooks Raley currently stands as the only lefty with a locked-in role. The team also recently acquired Bryan Hudson from the White Sox, and he’s likely ahead of Severino in the battle for that second lefty spot in the bullpen.
So what does that mean for Anderson Severino? Think of this as a classic depth signing-low risk, potentially useful reward.
He’s the kind of arm you want in Triple-A Syracuse, ready to go if the bullpen takes a hit midseason. And while he may not be a household name, he brings strikeout potential from the left side and a recent track record of getting outs in pressure spots overseas.
Fans can expect to see plenty of Severino early in spring training. He’ll get innings, he’ll get looks, and unless he absolutely lights it up, he’ll likely be reassigned to minor league camp before the final cuts are made. But in a 162-game grind, guys like this often find their way back into the picture.
For now, Severino is a depth piece with a live arm, some international success, and a familiar last name. Whether that translates into a return to the bigs remains to be seen-but in baseball, you never know when the phone’s going to ring.