Left-hander Sean Manaea and the New York Mets have reached an agreement on a three-year, $75 million contract, sources told, keeping the veteran pitcher with the team he helped guide to an unexpected National League Championship Series appearance.
Manaea, 32, emerged as a key starter in the Mets’ rotation this season, finishing with a 12-6 record, a 3.47 ERA, and 184 strikeouts in 181⅔ innings. The contract, which is pending a physical, will more than double Manaea’s career earnings and continues the Mets’ aggressive spending spree this offseason.
Last winter, Manaea signed a two-year, $28 million contract with the Mets, which included an opt-out clause that he exercised. After declining New York’s one-year, $21.05 million qualifying offer, he became a free agent and attracted attention from numerous teams.
The free agent market for starting pitchers has been particularly lucrative, with Manaea becoming the sixth pitcher to secure a deal worth more than $21 million annually and the 12th to exceed an average annual value of $13 million.
Manaea made a strong impression on the Mets, both with his on-field performance—where his adjusted arm slot played a key role in his standout season—and in the clubhouse, where he developed into a team leader. The Mets’ decision to re-sign him was a natural one, especially given their ongoing offseason investments.
In addition to the Manaea signing, the Mets made headlines earlier in the offseason by securing the largest contract in sports history: a 15-year, $765 million deal with outfielder Juan Soto.
With free agents Luis Severino and Jose Quintana leaving the rotation, the Mets bolstered their pitching staff by adding right-handers Frankie Montas and Clay Holmes, the latter of whom will transition from a relief role to a starter.
They also signed right-handed starter Griffin Canning. With these acquisitions, the Mets’ total spending this offseason has reached $916.25 million.
Manaea’s return to the Mets was part of the team’s continued investment in high-level talent, as he joins the ranks of other elite starting pitchers like Blake Snell, Max Fried, and Nathan Eovaldi, all earning $25 million per year this winter.
Since being drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 2013 MLB Draft, Manaea’s imposing 6-foot-5, 250-pound frame has contributed to his deceptive pitching style, enhancing the effectiveness of his low-90s fastball.
This year with the Mets, Manaea returned to a sinker-heavy pitching approach, moving away from the four-seam fastball-heavy approach he had used in previous years.
He also altered his arm slot, emulating NL Cy Young Award winner Chris Sale, which helped revive his performance and return him to the level of his successful 2021 season.
Manaea also made key contributions in the postseason, pitching five innings of two-run ball in a Wild Card Round start and delivering seven innings of one-run ball in a Division Series win against the Philadelphia Phillies.
After allowing two earned runs in Game 2 of the NLCS against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Manaea was knocked out in the third inning of Game 6, a start that may have been his final appearance for the Mets—had he not re-signed.
Instead, Manaea will return for his 10th MLB season in Queens, continuing a career that has spanned 1,184⅓ innings, a 4.00 ERA, 1,109 strikeouts, 335 walks, and 158 home runs allowed.
His career has also included stints with the Oakland Athletics (2016 to 2021), San Diego Padres (2022), and San Francisco Giants (2023).
As for the Mets, they continue to explore multiple avenues to complement the addition of Soto to their lineup.
With free agent hitters like first baseman Pete Alonso and third baseman Alex Bregman still available, the Mets may choose to re-sign Alonso or sign Bregman, potentially moving Mark Vientos from first to third. The team has also expressed interest in the outfield market and remains active in trade discussions.
