Sean Manaea is on the verge of rejoining the New York Mets after agreeing to a three-year contract valued at $75 million, according to a source familiar with the matter. This information was provided under the condition of anonymity as the deal is pending a successful physical examination.
During his inaugural season with the Mets, Manaea emerged as the team’s most prominent starting pitcher, finishing with a record of 12 wins and 6 losses, along with a 3.47 earned run average (ERA) in 32 appearances. The left-handed pitcher opted out of his player option for the 2025 season, foregoing the final $13.5 million of a two-year, $28 million contract he signed earlier this year. This marks his third consecutive offseason as a free agent.
In addition to this, Manaea declined a qualifying offer of $21.05 million from the Mets last month, taking the plunge into free agency once again. His return is a significant boost for New York, providing a crucial frontline starter to help finalize their revamped pitching rotation. Following the acquisition of slugger Juan Soto for a record-setting 15-year, $765 million deal, Mets owner Steve Cohen has committed a staggering $916.25 million this offseason to bringing in five free agents, four of whom are starting pitchers.
The organization also secured the services of right-handers Frankie Montas ($34 million over two years), Clay Holmes ($38 million over three years), and Griffin Canning ($4.25 million for one year). Holmes, a two-time All-Star who served as the closer for the New York Yankees, is set to transition from a relief role to a starting position.
This past season, Manaea achieved a career-high 181 2/3 innings, striking out 184 batters while walking 63. Midway through the season, he adjusted his pitching mechanics to mimic the style of Chris Sale, a left-handed pitcher known for his effectiveness, and as a result, he became New York’s most reliable starter in the latter part of the season, recording a 6-2 record and a 3.09 ERA over his last twelve regular-season appearances.
In the postseason, Manaea contributed significantly, posting a record of 2-1 with a 4.74 ERA across four starts and a total of 19 innings pitched, which helped the Mets to unexpectedly reach the National League Championship Series.
As free agency began, veteran starters such as Manaea, Luis Severino, and Jose Quintana entered the market, with Severino signing a three-year, $67 million deal with the Athletics. Manaea’s contract parallels the $75 million, three-year agreement for right-hander Nathan Eovaldi to remain with the Texas Rangers, though it should be noted that approximately $23 million of Manaea’s deal will be deferred. Eovaldi will be turning 35 in February.
The anticipated rotation for 2025 likely includes Manaea, Montas, and Holmes, along with current starters Kodai Senga and David Peterson. Other potential candidates to fill out the rotation include Canning, Tylor Megill, Paul Blackburn, and Jose Buttó.
In his nine years in Major League Baseball, Manaea boasts an overall record of 77-62 with a 4.00 ERA in 198 starts and 30 relief appearances for teams like Oakland (2016-2021), San Diego (2022), San Francisco (2023), and the Mets. Notably, he threw a no-hitter for the Athletics against the Boston Red Sox in April 2018. Manaea was selected 34th overall in the 2013 amateur draft by the Kansas City Royals after his stint at Indiana State.
