Luis Severino, a talented and experienced pitcher, has been an integral part of the New York Yankees’ rotation in previous seasons. However, his recent performances have raised questions about his readiness and effectiveness on the mound. In 13 starts so far this season, his ERA is as high as 7.74 with a 2-6 win-loss record.
The impending free agent is now feeling the heat as his rotation spot has seemingly come under serious threat. Due to his recent failures, rumors suggest that Luis Severino might end up losing his job as a starter and could be moved to the bullpen. Meanwhile, the pitcher’s next start is scheduled for Wednesday, and the Yankees are still reportedly exploring options.
Luis Severino’s Wednesday Start Vs. White Sox Still Not Confirmed By Yankees
New York Yankees starter Luis Severino is currently witnessing one of the worst seasons of his career. After suffering from a lat strain early into the season, the pitcher’s performance on the mound has been on the downside. Moreover, the situation has deteriorated in the past couple of weeks. His constant failure has come at the worst possible time. The Yanks currently remain under a crucial stretch as they try to keep the playoff dream alive. Hence, the club cannot afford to keep the loose ends. Amid this, Severino has a start scheduled on Wednesday for the series finale vs. Chicago White Sox. However, early indications suggest that the original schedule might go ahead as planned.
As per Yankees manager Aaron Boone, they are exploring all options to determine Luis Severino’s future this season. Those options include moving him to the bullpen or optioning him to the minor league. In all scenarios, Severino will be stripped of his starter’s title. And to be fair, it’s the best possible move for the pitcher at this time. On many occasions, the Yankees starter has conveyed his mental struggles. From feeling like the worst pitcher in the world to extreme frustration, Severino is undoubtedly overwhelmed. He needs to take a step back and rediscover his true self. The lost self-confidence needs to come back in order to extract performance from Luis on the mound. Having said that, if Severino is eventually robbed off a start, Aaron Boone could hand over the ball to Jhony Brito or Randy Vasquez.
What Future Has In Store For Luis Severino?
The main reason behind Luis Severino’s mental frustration is that his future with the New York Yankees is not certain. The pitcher remains an impending free agent who almost got traded at the deadline. So now that he has escaped the deadline, what options does the club have? For instance, the Yanks can table a qualifying offer if the pitcher goes on to record impressive eight or nine starts henceforth.
The qualifying offer is expected to rise to $22 million in 2024. However, the Yankees might not choose to table the offer after all. Severino’s struggles go way beyond this season. Right now, the pitcher does not seem useful in the long term. For Severino, he should accept a qualifying offer and prove his worth to earn a better contract in the following season. All things considered, the ball is in the Yankees’ court for now.