The New York Yankees are linked to a reunion with a starting pitcher in a trade to help replace Clarke Schmidt.
The Yankees had another tough injury blow as Schmidt is done for the rest of the season as he’s set to undergo Tommy John Surgery. Before Schmidt’s injury, the Yankees already had a need for a starter and that only added to the need.
Major League Baseball analyst James Wilson of BaseballRumors links the Yankees to a reunion with Luis Severino from the Athletics.
“A reunion with Athletic right-hander Luis Severino isn’t out of the question,” Wilson wrote. “The former Yankee has been frustrated with the A’s temporary home at Sutter Health Park, and his numbers reflect the environment: a 6.79 ERA at home versus a 3.04 ERA on the road.
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“Severino’s hefty contract, $67 million over three years, complicates things, and the Athletics may need to eat salary to move him,” Wilson added. “But with the Yankees desperate for stability, Severino’s familiarity with New York and proven playoff experience might make the risk worth it.”
Severino’s name has come up in trade talks as he has struggled at home with the Athletics, but on the road has been dominant.
The right-hander is 2-10 with a 5.30 ERA in 19 starts, but on the road, he’s been better so the Yankees would be betting on him to have success at Yankee Stadium.
With the Athletics also well out of a playoff spot, and Severino being owed quite a bit of money, it likely wouldn’t cost that much for the Yankees to acquire him.
Severino pitched for the Yankees from 2015 until 2023 and was an All-Star in 2017 and 2018.
More MLB: Yankees urged to acquire sub-three ERA starter to replace Clarke Schmidt