If you have followed baseball long enough, you would know that it’s rare for a player to openly bash his own team’s ballpark. But then again, Luis Severino has never been one to stick to the script. And after this, it seems like the honeymoon phase in Sacramento ended before it began.

After signing a massive three-year $67 million deal with the A’s, Severino was supposed to be the face of the franchise during the messy transition from Oakland. Instead, he became the voice criticizing everything in the current setup.

From complaining about the ballpark’s minor league vibe to talking about the lack of air conditioning and the weird clubhouse location, Severino has never held back. “I was not trying to hurt anybody’s feelings by saying that. But I think, you know, I’m not the only one who feels the same way.” And while that might be true, this is not helping his case, and now insiders are giving A’s a reality check.

MLB executive David Samson summed it up better than anyone. Samson said in his podcast, “The contract itself was ridiculous when it was signed. Total overpay. Here’s my rule on when you overpay a player: When you overpay a player, the player should be willing to play nicely. The player should be willing to say, “I am so thankful that the Sacramento A’s gave me $67 million in a three-year deal.” Well… Severino has not quite done that. He’s sort of done the opposite. He has come out loud and proud against the stadium in Sacramento.”

And that’s the A’s reality check. They have gambled big on a veteran to signal that they were still trying, still serious despite all the relocation drama. But now, they are staring at the truth—that they paid top money for a player who is just underperforming (5.18 ERA) and also publicly undermining the franchise. Oops! Sure, the A’s might have the issues, but revealing them hasn’t helped Luis Severino’s case. Bob Nightengale reported just this week that the A’s “can’t wait” to trade Severino—that his comments are agitating the organization and not sitting well with the clubhouse or the front office.

Plus, with the trade deadline looming, the question isn’t if Severino will be moved right now—it’s really how much the A’s are willing to eat just to ship him out for now. Also, one thing is for sure: for a team that’s looking for stability, Severino’s ongoing bashing is the last thing they need now.  And given the tension and subtle jabs between A’s and Severino, the trade chatter has picked up serious steam.

Luis Severino’s trade buzz picks up steam

The trade drama has started, and reports suggest that the Athletics are eager to move on from their $67 million pitcher. And given that the Cubs are watching closely, Jason Bruke of Sports Illustrated has pitched a proposal that might really work for both sides. His idea is to ship Severino, infielder Darell Hernaiz, and $15 million to Chicago Cubs in exchange for a trio of intriguing prospects.

This way, the Cubs get a veteran starter to steady their rotation for a postseason push. The A’s, meanwhile, can offload a contract that’s become more of a headache than anything. So in return, Oakland can get Cubs No. 8 prospect Jaxon Wiggins. He is a right-hander who has already made waves in Double-A. There is also Jack Neely, standing tall at 6’8 with a slider that’s crazy, and Brett Bateman, a defense-first outfielder who brings in elite range in center and solid on-base skills.

Sure, the $22 million player option for 2027 does complicate things, but that’s where the sweet financial offer of $15 million in cash could help smooth things over. Maybe Oakland directs that money towards next year and eases payroll strain. It’s not flawless, but for a team that’s in flux, it’s a practical place to start.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments.