Luis Severino will exercise his $22 million player option, keeping him with the Athletics for their final season in Sacramento. After a shoulder injury ended his 2026 season, the 32-year-old is choosing financial security and time to recover over free agency—while the A’s weigh whether to keep him as a veteran rotation anchor or explore a trade.

By the Numbers
  • $22 million: Severino’s player-option salary for 2027.
  • 4.16 ERA in 12 starts and 62⅔ innings in 2026.
  • 4.43 ERA across 41 starts and 225⅓ innings in his first two seasons with the A’s.
  • 5.85 ERA at home versus 3.14 on the road as an Athletic.
Yes, But

Severino’s option avoids a free-agent market likely to be disrupted by a lockout, and his abbreviated season and uneven 2025 performance may have limited his earning potential. But his stark home-road splits and the A’s previous willingness to discuss a trade leave his longer-term fit uncertain.

State of Play
  • Severino is expected to return as the experienced leader of a young rotation.
  • J.T. Ginn, Jacob Lopez and Gage Jump are also projected among the top starters; the fifth spot remains unsettled.
  • A trade is possible, particularly if the A’s agree to cover some of Severino’s salary, but keeping him appears more likely given the club’s rotation needs.
What's Next

Severino can focus on recovering for his age-33 season in 2027. The A’s could still add an experienced starter or revisit trade discussions as they shape their rotation for the final Sacramento season.

Bottom Line

The option gives Severino security and the A’s a needed veteran starter, but his health—and whether his road performance can translate at home—will determine how valuable that arrangement becomes.