Right-hander Luis Severino is the first major free agent to join the former Oakland Athletics in their new temporary home in Sacramento.
Severino and the A’s have agreed on a three-year, $67 million contract, a person with knowledge of the deal confirmed to USA TODAY Sports. The person spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because the deal had not yet been announced.
The $67 million guarantee will be the largest in franchise history, edging the six-year, $66 million extension that the Athletics gave to third baseman Eric Chávez in 2004.
After spending nine years with the New York Yankees, Severino pitched for the crosstown Mets this past season, going 11-7 with a 3.91 ERA and 161 strikeouts in 182 innings. Severino made three postseason starts for the Mets, winning the opening game of the NL wild card series against Milwaukee and pitching Game 2 of the NLDS vs. Philadelphia.
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His last start came in the NL Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, when he allowed a pair of unearned runs and was removed in the fifth inning of an eventual 8-0 loss.
Severino had declined the Mets’ $21.05 million qualifying offer in order to test the free agent market.
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