A’s GM David Forst says the team wanted to make a statement with Luis Severino’s contract

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Athletics general manager David Forst said the team wanted to make a statement going into its new home. The veteran right-hander was a free agent for the second straight offseason after going 11-7 with a 3.91 ERA in 182 innings during his only season with the New York Mets. “We wanted to make something of a statement coming into a new city and coming into a new ballpark,” Forst said. Signing someone with Luis’s experience to be a leader was important to us.” Severino is 65-44 with a 3.81 ERA in 156 starts and 16 relief appearances for the Yankees and Mets.