As Joe Benigno and Jerry Recco pondered what the Mets will do at the trade deadline later this month, Joe made it clear that he wants Luis Severino in the rotation after July 30 and beyond.
“Sign Severino,” Joe said. “If they got rid of [Sean] Manaea or [Jose] Quintana, I don’t have a big problem with that. But I want Severino signed.”
Severino has proven to be a bargain one-year signing by David Stearns and company, as the oft-injured righty has remained healthy up to this point, as well as effective, posting a 3.42 ERA across 16 starts. So far, he has more than earned his $13 million deal.
Of course, if the Mets fall into another swoon like they were in earlier this season and are a few games back of a playoff spot, Stearns could suggest to Steve Cohen that selling off their expiring contracts to further replenish the prospect pool would be the best case scenario. But Joe wouldn’t want Severino to be included in that, nor would he want J.D. Martinez to be a part of that if the Mets are still within striking distance of a Wild Card spot.
“If they are two games out of the Wild Card, they’re gonna sell J.D. Martinez?” Joe said. “How is Steve Cohen possibly selling that to the fans?”