Rebuffed by Mets, Luis Severino faces them for A's

Luis Severino was one of the players responsible for creating the unique feel-good vibes around the New York Mets last season.

Over the winter, he found out business usually supersedes vibes.

Severino is slated to start against his former club Sunday afternoon, when he takes the mound for the Athletics in the finale of a three-game interleague series against the visiting Mets in Sacramento, Calif.

Severino (0-2, 4.74 ERA) will oppose Kodai Senga (1-1, 1.80) in a matchup of right-handers.

The Athletics evened the series with a 3-1 victory Saturday afternoon, when right-hander J.T. Ginn tossed 5 1/3 solid innings to earn the win in his season debut.

Severino will be making his fourth start on the season and his 160th in the majors. He signed a three-year deal worth $67 million -- the biggest free agent contract in franchise history -- to provide some much-needed experience in a young rotation.

"Proud of the fact that he got a nice contract," Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. "The hard work paid off. I'm proud of him."

But Severino acknowledged this weekend his first preference was to return to the Mets, for whom he rebuilt his career last season by going 11-7 with a 3.91 ERA in 31 regular-season starts. He then went 1-1 with a 3.24 ERA in three playoff starts during New York's surprising run to the National League Championship Series.

Counting the playoffs, Severino threw 198 2/3 innings -- just shy of his total from 2019 through 2023, when he battled a spate of injuries with the New York Yankees.

On his non-start days, Severino also was known for bringing out the "OMG" sign -- inspired by the hit song by utility infielder Jose Iglesias -- and posing with it alongside a Mets player who had just homered.

Severino said Friday he told Mets executives he would be willing to sign a two-year deal worth $40 million, but was declined. New York instead re-signed Sean Manaea and brought in Griffin Canning, Clay Holmes and Frankie Montas on short-term deals. Manaea and Montas have yet to pitch this season due to injury, while Canning and Holmes are a combined 2-2 with a 4.25 ERA in six starts.

"I knew it was going to be less money, but I just liked the environment there," Severino said. "So I was trying to sacrifice more money by staying in a place where I know I can be better, I can get better. But at the end, I was not in the plans."

Severino took the defeat in his most recent start on Tuesday, when he allowed five runs over seven innings in a 5-4 loss to the visiting San Diego Padres. Senga earned the win Tuesday by tossing five scoreless innings in a 2-0 victory over the visiting Miami Marlins.

Severino is 2-2 with a 4.07 ERA in five career games (four starts) against the Mets, all of which were made as a member of the Yankees.

Senga's long appearance against the Athletics came on April 14, 2023. He didn't get a decision after allowing four runs over 4 2/3 innings in the Mets' 17-6 victory.

--Field Level Media