Can the A’s keep their ace? Right‑hander Luis Severino will trigger his $22 million player option, shunning free agency and staying in Sacramento for the final season before 2027‑28 free agency.
Despite earlier complaints about Sutter Health Park, the veteran isn’t leaving for his contract’s last year. He logged a 4.16 ERA over 12 starts and 62 2/3 innings before a shoulder‑capsule and subscapularis strain landed him on the 15‑day IL in late May. The injury ended his season; he threw again but never progressed enough for a minor‑league rehab.
With a shortened campaign and a middling 2025 showing, Severino likely wouldn’t command $22 million on the open market. Opting out would also thrust him into a lockout‑tainted offseason, so cashing in now and targeting a 2027 return at age 33 makes clear sense.
In my view, the guaranteed payday outweighs any risk. Severino’s previous free‑agency deal—three years, $67 million signed in December 2024—remains the A’s biggest ever. Over the first two seasons he posted a 4.43 ERA in 41 starts and 225 1/3 innings. His strikeout rate has slipped to 19.4% (down from 24% this year), while walks sit at 8.3% and ground balls at 42%, both near league average.
Road numbers tell a different story. In 20 home starts he posted a 5.85 ERA and surrendered 14.2% of fly balls for homers. On the road, across 21 outings, his ERA dropped to 3.14 with a 6.0% HR/FB rate, limiting opponents to a .640 OPS versus .823 at Sutter Health.
Those splits keep trade talk alive. The A’s probed a move at the 2025 deadline but hesitated to shoulder much of the remaining salary. While $22 million isn’t trivial, the club might absorb part of it to make a deal, or swap Severino for a pitcher carrying an unwanted contract.
Most likely he’ll anchor a youthful rotation, especially after the club declined Jeffrey Springs’ option, leaving Severino, J.T. Ginn, Jacob Lopez and Gage Jump as the projected top four. Others like Jack Perkins, Luis Morales and Luis Medina will battle for the fifth slot, unless the A’s sign a veteran arm. Will Sacramento find the extra piece to round out its staff this offseason?