Former Yankees Starter Could Be Perfect for Cubs originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Jed Hoyer’s hunt for a starting pitcher to replace Justin Steele has been at the forefront of Cubs’ trade rumors. Many names have been tossed about, but there is one that hasn’t received as much attention.
It’s been a long time since Luis Severino was thought of as an elite arm. In 2017 and 2018, Severino pitched to ERAs of 2.98 and 3.39 respectively, becoming an ace for the New York Yankees. Unfortunately, injuries kept him off the field for most of the next four years.
In 2023, Severino couldn’t quite find his form, throwing to a 6.65 ERA in 89.1 innings before the Yankees finally reached the end of their patience. Just last season, Severino rebounded to an extent, finishing the season with a 3.91 ERA as a member of the Mets.
Over the offseason, the A’s decided to take a chance on him, signing him to a 3-year $67 million contract (player option of $22 million for 2027). Pitching to a 4.47 ERA this year, the 31-year-old righty doesn’t seem to be the pitcher he once was, but looks can be deceiving.
At home in his Sacramento minor-league park, Severino owns a miserable 7.10 ERA with an opponent batting average of .291, surrendering six home runs in 52 innings. On the road, these numbers drop to a 0.93 ERA, .194 opponent batting average and no home runs in 38.2 innings.
Perhaps, if Severino isn’t stuck in a minor-league stadium, there is a chance he might thrive elsewhere. For the A’s, who are definitely a seller, Severino could easily be a trade chip. And given his price tag when combined with an ERA in the mid-4.00s, it shouldn’t take a hefty package to land him.
For the Cubs, Severino could be an exceptional buy-low, change of scenery candidate. But regardless if he could tap into his ace potential at Wrigley, he would at least be a solid back-of-the-rotation anchor, giving the Cubs some upside over their other backend options. Either way, his presence with the Cubs would be an improvement.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 15, 2025, where it first appeared.