Ex-Mets veteran: New addition better produce, or it ‘could be a final straw’

Todd Frazier is a Jersey guy who knows a thing or two about New York. After all, the 11-year veteran played 79 games with the Yankees and 262 more with the Mets before he retired after the 2021 season.

He also knows a lot about new Mets pitcher Luis Severino, who reportedly signed a one-year, $13 million contract Wednesday , because they were teammates with the Yankees in 2017. While Frazier sees the ingredients for a bounce back — Severino struggled to a 6.65 ERA in an injury-riddled 2023 season — he cautioned that the 29-year-old’s chances are running out if he doesn’t produce for the Mets.

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“I think one word to describe last year’s performance was ‘confusing,’” Frazier said Thursday on the “Foul Territory” show . “I think, for me, you watch the guy pitch — like he’s got good stuff and he’s getting whacked. Was he tipping pitches? Was his stuff flat? ... His slider at times worked really well ... I do think he needed a change — maybe a smaller market. ...

“This is a huge offseason for Luis and he needs to figure out some things before he moves on because this is the biggest year of his career if he doesn’t bring back what he was, from years ago when I played with him. This could could be a final straw for him.”

The Mets are betting that Severino recaptures the dominance that he flashed in multiple seasons with the Yankees: In 2017-18, the hard-throwing right-hander posted a 3.18 ERA and 10.5 strikeouts per nine across 384 2/3 innings while earning Cy Young votes in both seasons. Because of injuries, Severino has pitched only 120 innings in the five seasons since; he did not pitch all of 2020 because of Tommy John surgery and dealt with a lat injury and oblique strain in 2023. Still, he recorded a cumulative 2.85 ERA, even with the ugly 6.65 ERA and 1.65 WHIP in 89 1/3 innings from 2023.

Severino joins Kodai Senga and Jose Quintana as the Mets’ only clear rotation pieces. He’s a risk, but a big year from Severino could do wonders for the Mets’ chances of improving on a disappointing 75-87 campaign.

“This is the biggest year of his career,” Frazier said. “Put everything behind. This is the biggest year. I hope he goes out there and dominates.”