Luis Severino’s future in Oakland is suddenly looking a lot less certain.
The former Yankees flamethrower, now with the A’s, could be back on the trade block this offseason. It’s a surprising turn for a pitcher who once looked like a franchise cornerstone in New York, but after a rocky 2025 season in Oakland, the A’s may already be reconsidering their investment.
Severino is coming off a tough year, finishing with an 8-11 record and a 4.54 ERA. That’s a far cry from the dominant presence he once was in the Bronx, where mid-90s heat and wipeout sliders made him a two-time All-Star and a key piece of the Yankees' rotation. But since leaving New York in 2023, Severino’s career has taken a winding path-first to the Mets in 2024, and then across the Bay Bridge to the A’s in 2025.
Now, as he enters the second season of a three-year, $64 million deal-the richest free-agent contract in A’s franchise history-there’s growing chatter that Oakland could look to move him. ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan have both pointed to Severino as a potential trade candidate this winter.
From a team-building standpoint, it makes sense. The A’s aren’t exactly flush with payroll flexibility, and Severino’s contract stands out on their books. If the front office believes his best days are behind him, flipping him for a younger arm or prospect capital could be the smarter long-term play.
But trading Severino isn’t just about the money. It’s also about the performance-or lack thereof.
Injuries have taken a toll over the years, and while the velocity is still there in flashes, the consistency just hasn’t followed. The command wavers.
The big strikeout games are fewer and farther between. And at 31, the window for a full career resurgence might be starting to close.
If he’s dealt, it would mark his third team in as many seasons. That’s a tough reality for a guy who once looked like he’d be the Yankees’ ace for the next decade. But baseball doesn’t wait around, and front offices are quick to pivot when the production doesn’t match the paycheck.
Still, there’s always a market for starting pitching-especially for a veteran with Severino’s pedigree. Teams looking for rotation depth or a bounce-back candidate with upside could be intrigued. And maybe, just maybe, a change of scenery (again) could help him tap back into the version of himself that once dominated AL lineups.
For now, though, the A’s have a decision to make. Stick with the big-ticket arm and hope he rebounds-or move on, and try to recoup value while they still can. Either way, Luis Severino’s name is one to watch this offseason.