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

This free agent signing feels a little too familiar

I can’t help but feel the Severino signing is too similar to the addition of Rick Porcello back in 2020 with some Dellin Betances sprinkled in for bad measure. The “okay, let’s see what he can do” feeling was there with Porcello along with some major doubts. Spun as the Mets signing a former Cy Young winner, there isn’t quite as much positive twirling to do with Severino. The horrific 6.65 ERA last year in 89.1 innings of work is a big stain. Two-time All-Star doesn’t do it either. Those two seasons happened before Pete Alonso was even a major leaguer. That’s a long time and several major injuries in between the last time Severino was elite.

The Mets are giving Severino a chance to prove himself in 2024 in a year where the team looks ready to offer opportunities like this. The idea of the Mets attacking the offseason by throwing rocks instead of missiles seems to be true, at least for now.

It’s unpredictable how good or bad Severino will be. In 2022, he made 19 starts and had a 3.18 ERA. We’ll take that with a little more health mixed in, too. But who really knows at this point? The Mets chose the positive “if” instead of the conservative and reliable “probably will.”