NEW YORK – A Mets team in desperate need of starting pitching began filling that void Wednesday with a former standout from its neighboring district. The team agreed to a one-year, $13 million contract with right-hander Luis Severino, a source told MLB.com, marking the first major signing of the David Stearns era.
Later Wednesday, the Mets also agreed to terms with infielder Joey Wendle on a one-year, $2 million contract. The team has not confirmed either deal as they are not official yet.
Severino, 29, has spent his entire eight-year career with the Yankees, including the 2017 and 2018 All-Star seasons. But he suffered serious injuries from a right rotator cuff strain in 2019, followed by Tommy John surgery in 2020. Severino has since had lat and oblique problems, making 18 starts last season and posting a 6.65 ERA.
Therefore, the range of outcomes for Severino in 2024 is wide. He remains one of the game’s hardest throwers, ranking in the 88th percentile in fastball velocity. But he hasn’t had a full, healthy season in half a decade and has had 23 issues throughout the season.
Still, Severino is a risk worth taking for the Mets as they hope to put a contender on the field without agreeing to too many new long-term contracts. At his best, Severino is distinguishing himself as a real talent, still a few months shy of his 30th birthday. It is his injury history and lack of recent success that has made him available for a one-year deal. At worst, it represents a $13 million budget for an organization that can afford such mistakes.
At this point, any arm the Mets can acquire is critically important. With Kodai Senga, José Quintana and Severino, the team now has three starters under guaranteed contracts. New York is also among the favorites to sign Japanese free agent star Yoshinobu Yamamoto, although it faces stiff competition from other major clubs on that front. Stearns, the club’s new president of baseball operations, said he expects the Mets to add several starters this winter – that could mean two or three on guaranteed deals, depending on how the rest of the offseason unfolds, plus more minor league contracts.
Even after acquiring Wendle, a 33-year veteran of the A’s, Rays and Marlins, the Mets expect to add even more offense. Best known for his versatility, Wendle has played five different defensive positions over the course of his eight-year career, spending most of his time at second base, third base and shortstop. The left-hander was an All-Star in 2021, hitting .265/.319/.422 with 11 home runs and 31 doubles. But Wendle struggled the last two seasons in Miami, slashing .238/.275/.335.
In New York, Wendle is offering the Mets insurance at second base if they decide to use Jeff McNeil in the outfield and at third base in the event Brett Baty, Ronny Mauricio and Mark Vientos don’t join in next spring profile. His presence also makes a trade involving one of these three even more plausible.
The other notable aspect of Wednesday’s agreements is that both Severino and Wendle agreed to one-year deals. Team owner Steve Cohen has called 2024 a bridge year for the Mets, who hope to avoid being burdened with long-term contracts as their farm system matures. While targets like Yamamoto represent potential exceptions, the Mets intend to acquire more players like Severino and Wendle, who will come off the books as their system bears more regular fruit.
Even with two major league contracts nearing completion, the Mets will remain busy at next week’s Winter Meetings and throughout December. Their main needs include one or two more starters, a hard-hitting corner outfielder or DH type, and multiple relievers.