7 Yankees facing uncertain futures heading into 2022

3. Luis Severino

Bet you didn’t see this one coming! Did you forget about Luis Severino’s four-year, $40 million contract extension that has so far featured … 18 INNINGS heading into year four. You’ve truly never seen anything like this.

Sevy has a team option in 2023 for $11.5 million (with a $2.75 million buyout) and there’s just no way it’ll be exercised if he can’t put together a healthy/competent showing in 2022. The injuries are out of his control, but it’s beyond ridiculous at this point. He’s appeared in seven games since the start of 2019 after two years of getting Cy Young votes.

When he returned at the tail end of last season, he appeared in games as a reliever and did quite well. In four outings (six innings), he didn’t give up a single run, allowed just two hits and a walk, and struck out eight batters.

But that’s not what the Yankees paid for. They were relying on Sevy to be their ace … and then their No. 2 after they signed Gerrit Cole. Imagine 2017 Severino pitching behind Cole? Life would certainly be better and less household objects would be broken.

Like many others on this list, Sevy’s MLB future is uncertain heading into 2022. He could be a footnote on this era of Yankees baseball when all is said and done if he can’t stay healthy and contribute in an impactful way. And there’s no way the Yankees will be paying $11.5 million for anything less.