The Atlanta Braves haven’t closed their winter season yet. Despite having a competitive rotation roster, the team is reportedly looking for a reliable starter before spring training officially begins—less than two weeks away.
Free agencies still have familiar names like Chris Bassitt, Nick Martinez, and Zack Littell. But if the Braves don’t want to gamble on options that are “okay but don’t make a difference,” they could turn to the trade market. And there, one name is quietly emerging: Luis Severino.
According to Spotrac, Severino is currently the third-highest-ranked trade candidate in MLB. Not because he’s cheap, but because his contract is at a strange crossroads between value and risk.
Severino is entering the second year of a three-year, $45 million contract with the Athletics, with a player option for 2027 — a clause he’s almost certain to activate unless he has an exceptionally explosive 2026 season. In theory, this isn’t the kind of contract that would draw teams lining up for a trade. But Severino’s specific circumstances tell a different story.
That story begins — and may end — in West Sacramento.
Pitching at Sutter Health Park has never been easy. And Severino is the living proof. His home/road split numbers last season were almost… unbelievable. On the road: 80.2 innings, ERA 3.02 — the image of a solid starter. On home: 82.1 innings, ERA 6.02 — as if he were a completely different pitcher.
Looking at that picture, the question immediately arises: Who is Severino really? And the Braves—a team that always believes in the ability to “optimize” its pitcher—could be the answer to that question.
In the proposed trade scenario, the Braves would send Grant Holmes and prospect Garrett Baumann to the Athletics in exchange for Severino. Holmes had a pretty good 2025 season: an ERA of 3.99 in 115 innings, 21 appearances, and years of control of the team. For an A’s team needing young and inexpensive pitching, that’s not a bad piece of the puzzle. Baumann, the Braves’ sixth-ranked prospect, would be the “spice” that makes the offer serious.
From Atlanta’s perspective, Severino doesn’t need to be an ace. Chris Sale and Spencer Schwellenbach have already taken on that role. What the Braves need is a starter who can score quality innings, especially in the context of a long season and a tough postseason. Severino—when not betrayed at home—has proven he remains one of the more effective starters of the last two seasons.
And what about the Athletics? If the Braves are willing to take on a large portion of Severino’s salary, it’s hard for the Athletics to say no. They’ve just shown a willingness to pivot by trading Jeff McNeil and extending Jacob Wilson’s contract. A young, controllable starter with promising prospects is exactly the kind of “asset” they’re accumulating for the future of Las Vegas.
So who’s going to say “no” to this deal?
Perhaps… the Braves themselves. Because this isn’t a safe decision. Severino carries the risks of a contract, options, and questions about stability. But the Braves aren’t a team that avoids risk either—especially when they believe their environment can bring out the best version of a pitcher.
The question isn’t whether Severino is still good. The question is: is he good enough for the Braves to keep putting chips on the table? And with spring training fast approaching, the answer may come sooner than many think.
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