Trading Luis Severino Is Not Going To Be an Easy Task

The Athletics entered the 2025 season with cautious optimism, even without a permanent home. A promising mix of rising stars and fresh additions gave the franchise hope for a step forward in their long rebuild.

With breakout talents like Brent Rooker, Lawrence Butler, Jacob Wilson, and Tyler Soderstrom—all forming a young, exciting core—plus high-upside prospect Nick Kurtz quickly proving his worth, the A’s seemed poised to be more than a basement dweller in the AL West. New pitching additions Luis Severino and Jeffrey Springs further fueled that early-season enthusiasm.

But as the All-Star break arrives, reality has set in: the Athletics sit at 41–57, the worst team in the AL West and second-worst in the league, 11 games out of a playoff spot. The A’s are firmly in sell mode—but with limited high-value trade assets.

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The Severino Situation: A Complicated Trade Candidate

The most notable name on the Athletics’ potential trade block is Luis Severino, a veteran with playoff experience and past success. The A’s likely hoped he’d become a valuable trade chip. Instead, Severino’s 2025 campaign has made moving him a far more complicated task—on and off the field.

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Performance Problems

Severino’s on-field production has taken a step back. After reviving his career in 2024 with the Mets (posting a 3.91 ERA over 182 innings), expectations were high when he signed a three-year deal with the Athletics. But this season has been rocky. Through 20 starts, he owns a 5.16 ERA, a WHIP north of 1.40, and opponents are hitting over .260 against him.

Advanced metrics suggest some bad luck—his 4.33 FIP and 4.68 xERA indicate he’s been slightly better than the ERA suggests. He’s also performed better on the road (3.04 ERA away from home), hinting at potential upside if he lands in a more stable environment.

Still, those are slim silver linings for a pitcher owed big money. Severino’s contract is arguably the bigger hurdle: he’s still due the remainder of his $20 million salary in 2025, plus $25 million in 2026 and a $22 million player option for 2027. That’s a steep price for a pitcher with middling results.

If Severino were on an expiring deal like he was with the Mets, some teams might overlook the inconsistency and bet on a change of scenery. But few contenders are eager to take on his current financial commitment—especially when the Athletics aren’t expected to eat much of the cost.

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Off-the-Field Fallout

As if his performance weren’t enough of a concern, Severino hasn’t done himself—or the A’s—any favors off the field.

In an interview with The Athletic, Severino openly criticized the team’s temporary home in Sacramento’s Sutter Health Park. “It feels like a spring training kind of game every time I pitch,” he said. “We don’t have that [energy] at home right now… It’s not the same atmosphere. We don’t have a lot of fans. Our clubhouse is in left field. There’s no air conditioning. It’s really tough.”

While his frustrations may be valid, airing them publicly has not gone over well inside the organization. According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the A’s were “very upset” with Severino’s comments and are now actively open to trading him.

Unfortunately for the Athletics, his remarks may have cost them leverage. Teams now know the A’s are motivated to move Severino, and any potential return—already likely to be modest—has probably dipped further.

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Is a Trade Still Possible?

Despite all the baggage, insiders still expect Severino to be moved. Nightengale noted it “may come as a surprise if he’s still with the organization come August.”

The A’s will likely need to lower their asking price or be willing to eat part of the contract to make a deal happen. Teams desperate for starting depth—perhaps including Severino’s former club, the Mets—might take a gamble, especially if they view him as a reclamation project.

But between the underwhelming results, financial burden, and clubhouse tensions, Severino has made himself one of the more challenging trade chips at this year’s deadline.

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Final Thoughts

For a rebuilding team like the A’s, flipping veterans for future value is key to their long-term plan. Severino was supposed to be one of those veterans. Instead, he’s become an example of how quickly a seemingly savvy signing can turn into a trade headache.

With just weeks until the deadline, Severino’s fate remains uncertain—but if a deal does materialize, it won’t be for much, and it won’t come easily.

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