The New York Mets made some important decisions this offseason, starting by not picking up reliever Phil Maton’s contract option for 2025. Instead, they opted for a $250,000 buyout, making Maton a free agent.
The Mets also extended qualifying offers worth $21.05 million to starting pitchers Sean Manaea and Luis Severino, along with first baseman Pete Alonso. These players now have until 4 p.m. EST on Nov. 19 to accept the one-year offer.
If they accept, they will stay with the Mets for 2025. If they turn it down and sign with another team, the new team will have to give up draft picks, and the Mets will get at least one draft pick in return.
Severino, who had a solid first year with the Mets, is considered the most likely to accept. The 30-year-old right-hander went 11-7 with a 3.91 ERA in 31 starts in 2024, earning a $13 million salary after spending the first part of his career with the New York Yankees.
Since the qualifying offer system started in 2012, only 13 out of 131 offers have been accepted.
Manaea, who went 12-6 with a 3.47 ERA in 2024, turned down his $13.5 million option to become a free agent again. The 32-year-old lefty had a contract for $14.5 million this season but will now look for another opportunity.
After adjusting his pitching technique in the middle of the season, Manaea became the Mets’ most reliable starting pitcher, finishing with a 6-2 record and a 3.09 ERA for the rest of the season.
He also performed well in the playoffs, going 2-1 with a 4.74 ERA in four starts over 19 innings. The Mets made an unexpected run to the National League Championship Series but were eliminated by the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
Maton, who joined the Mets from Tampa Bay on July 9, had a solid first season with New York. He posted a 2-1 record with a 2.51 ERA and one save in 31 appearances. He finished the year with a 3-3 record and a 3.66 ERA in a career-high 71 games, earning a $6.25 million salary.
However, Maton struggled in the postseason, going 0-1 with an 8.53 ERA in six appearances. In those games, he gave up four home runs, 11 hits, and four walks in just 6 1/3 innings.
Additionally, the Mets claimed right-handed pitcher Kevin Herget from the Milwaukee Brewers and infielder Luis De Los Santos from the Toronto Blue Jays off waivers.
Left-handed pitchers Matt Gage and Joey Lucchesi, along with outfielder DJ Stewart, were sent outright to Triple-A Syracuse. Lucchesi and Stewart both chose to become free agents.
