This story was excerpted from Martín Gallegos’ A’s Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

SACRAMENTO -- Even during their most competitive seasons in recent years, the Athletics have developed a reputation as a club that waits out the Hot Stove in search of players lingering on the free-agent market long enough to become attainable in their price range.

Beginning a new era this upcoming season as the A’s move into their temporary new home of Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, the club is working to change that narrative. Instead of waiting around for a bargain, they struck early in the offseason by officially announcing the signing of right-hander Luis Severino to a two-year, $67 million deal with a player option for 2027 on Friday.

“We certainly came into this offseason feeling like we wanted to make a big statement coming to a new city and ballpark,” said A’s general manager David Forst. “We’re excited to have a pitcher of Luis’ caliber here joining us for our first year in Sutter Health Park. We’ve spent the offseason working on building the roster and this is our first big acquisition.”

The addition of Severino, a nine-year Major League veteran who made 31 starts and posted a 3.91 ERA with 161 strikeouts in 182 innings for the Mets in 2024, is an exciting one for the entire organization. It signals a shift in direction for an A’s squad that showed promising signs last season that it might soon finally be emerging from a difficult rebuilding process back into contention by supplementing its young core with one of the better right-handers available this winter.

A’s manager Mark Kotsay was unable to make the trip to Sacramento for Severino’s introductory press conference on Friday. Instead, he joined A’s Cast from his home in San Diego to discuss Severino and more.

Here are some of the highlights:

Kotsay on the signing of Severino

“It’s an exciting day. I couldn’t be more thrilled to not only have a frontline guy, but a great, great guy. Talking to him on Zoom, this is a Dominican player who has embraced our culture. He’s learned the language. He makes his home in Tampa with his beautiful wife and family that travels with him and supports him. This is a first-class individual and a first-class baseball player.”

On Severino’s reputation around the league

“He’s got a foundation [that] he and his wife have that helps raise money for families in need back in the [Dominican Republic], which is awesome. When you’re going to target a free agent, yes, talent is probably at the top of the list. But the person, the character and qualities he’s going to bring into the clubhouse, the work ethic -- I’ve received several text messages from coaches and managers that managed Sevy and they all said, ‘You’ve got a great guy.’ I couldn’t be happier about that as well as just getting a starting pitcher who made 31 starts last year to go along with JP [Sears], who made 32 starts. You look at [Mitch] Spence, the growth of [Joey] Estes and [J.T.] Ginn, I think we really are starting to lengthen out that rotation with some depth and I’m hopeful that we can add to it as well.”

On the direction of the A’s after improving their 2023 win total by 19 games last season

“We’re continuing forward with the mindset that we’re going to compete and we’re going to win. That message is getting stronger with the acquisition of a player like Sevy, and we’re hopeful that we can continue adding to this group. The nucleus is here. We got to see that for a few months [in 2024]. My job is getting them to believe in themselves and understand that it takes six months. That’s going to be a journey. Right out the gate, we start the season in Seattle with four games against [a] pitching staff that we’re going to have to go up and score runs to beat. The mindset is already there for next season, even though it’s only December.”

On building a young core of players ahead of the A’s planned relocation to Las Vegas in 2028

“These three years are going to be great in Sacramento and it’s going to lead us into Las Vegas. You look at the roster you can carry forward for these next three seasons and, hopefully, more into Vegas. It’s the core group of guys that we put together with guys like [Shea] Langeliers, [JJ] Bleday, [Lawrence] Butler, [Zack] Gelof. There’s a chance for [Tyler] Soderstrom this season to stay healthy and have a huge year. The excitement around Jacob Wilson, and, obviously, a middle-of-the-order bat in Brent Rooker who we’re hopeful to get something done with to continue showing a different direction for this organization in terms of making commitments to players.”