Mets Monday Morning GM: Lingering thoughts on the Luis Severino contract

After having some time to stew and think about the Luis Severino signing, not much has changed. Severino was not someone who got me excited for the coming New York Mets season. It’s understandable why they chose him. A one-year deal for a guy who was good in the past is one way to bridge seasons and possibly get that high reward everyone keeps mentioning; possibly.

There are some lingering questions and thoughts. It’s not just the recent injury history or how bad he was with the New York Yankees last year. It’s all encompassing and involves one of his new teammates, Jose Quintana.

Both signed deals with a $13 million AAV with Quintana having a second guaranteed season. The Mets paid Severino what the market is and I don’t have a problem with it unless this becomes some sort of an excuse as to why they can’t have someone else. Where my concerns lie are with the difference in choice between Severino and Quintana as well as some of those other available options.

The Mets chose Luis Severino as a “what if” candidate on a reasonable yet imperfect contract

The free agent starting pitcher market has changed a ton in just one year. Quintana suddenly feels like a bargain.

Before signing with the Mets, Quintana had an impressive season split with the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals. He spent a couple of years lost in the muck and on the IL regularly before coming back and exceling for a season. His 2023 injury cost him most of the year. When he did come back, he was good at first but eventually slowed down.

It made sense why the Mets would sign Quintana for the back half of their rotation. A lesser team could have even justified putting him closer to the top. With Severino, you have to cross your fingers and hope everything about the 2023 season for him was false.