Luis Severino Signs With the New York Mets
Yep, you read that right. SP Luis Severino has signed with the New York Mets for a 1-year, $13 million deal. Severino, 29, has pitched for 8 seasons and has a career sub-4 ERA and FIP. However, 2023 was a campaign to forget for the veteran starter. His FIP was 6.14 and his ERA was 6.65. Injuries have plagued Severino throughout his career, as he had his fourth straight season without at least 20 games started.
Severino always had high strikeout numbers and he wasn’t known for giving up home runs throughout his career (0.98 HR/9 in 2017, 0.89 HR/9 in 2018, 1.24 HR/9 in 2022). However, in 2023, his HR/9 was 2.32, nearly doubling his mark from 2022. Also, his K% was a career low in 2023 (18.9%), a near-9% decrease from his mark in 2022 (27.7%). After 2023, Severino was in desperate need of a change-of-scenery. The Mets took a chance on him and we’ll see how it works out in 2024.
Reds Add 2 Solid Relievers
The Cincinnati Reds signed RPs Emilio Pagan and Nick Martinez to kick-off their offseason.
Pagan, 32, is coming off of his most productive season since 2019 with the Tampa Bay Rays. The veteran reliever had a 0.65 HR/9 (career-best) in 66 games with the Minnesota Twins in 2023. Furthermore, Pagan’s ERA was 2.99 and he had a FIP of 3.27. Overall, for a bullpen that lacked quality options aside from closer Alexis Diaz, this is a solid move for the Reds.
Martinez, 33, is another veteran reliever who is coming off of the most effective season of his career. Like Pagan, Martinez had a career-best HR/9 at 0.98. Also, he had a career-best in GroundBall% at 53.8%. His ERA was a solid 3.43 and he had a FIP of 3.92. As the Cincinnati Reds look to compete in the NL Central with an explosive offence, quality bullpen arms are crucial. Both Pagan and Martinez fill these much-needed roles.
Other Notable Transactions
- Mets sign RP Austin Adams to 1-year deal
- Ex-Blue Jay Thomas Hatch signs with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters (Japanese League)
- Braves sign RP Penn Murfee/Jackson Stephens to 1-year deals
- RP Jaime Barria signs a minor-league deal with the Guardians
- UTILITY Garrett Hampson signs with Royals for 1-year, $2 million