Luis Severino Says He 'Asked for Less Money' to Stay With Mets Before A's Contract

Luis Severino said he was willing to take less money to stay with the New York Mets before joining the Athletics in free agency last winter.

Severino, who joined the Athletics on a three-year, $67 million deal, said he offered to remain with the Mets for two years and $40 million (h/t SNY.)

The Mets countered with the same two-year, $34 million offer they gave to Frankie Montas in December 2024, according to Severino.

"For me, I think, that was not fair," Severino said. "But at the end... I feel like, they were not doing the effort, because they have other options, other guys they can feel like can do the same job."

Montas had signed his $34 million deal with the Mets in December 2024 having missed almost the entire 2023 season due to shoulder surgery.

Severino meanwhile led the Mets rotation with 182.0 innings pitched last season while recording a 3.91 ERA and 11-7 record.

Severino said he would have been willing to stay in Queens for less money because he enjoyed the "environment" with the Mets.

"The trainers were unbelievable, everything there, it was good," Severino said. "So I was trying to sacrifice more money by staying in a place that I know I can be better, get better.

"But in the end, like I said, I was not in their plans."

Sean Manaea is currently on the IL with an oblique injury. Despite that injury at the top of the rotation, the Mets' starting rotation led by Clay Holmes and Tylor Megill currently boasts the lowest ERA in MLB.

About facing the Mets this weekend, Severino said: "Really happy to see those guys. They're like family to me. They work really hard. I feel like, even it was one year, I feel like I was there a long time."

The Mets and Athletics begin a weekend series in West Sacramento on Friday night at 10:05 p.m. ET. Severino, still looking for his first win of the season, is slated to start in a Sunday pitching matchup with Kodai Senga.