NY Mets bring Sean Manaea back into the fold with a three-year contract
The Mets make another big splash on the free agent market by re-signing veteran left-handed starting pitcher Sean Manaea.
Oct 8, 2024; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets pitcher Sean Manaea (59) reacts after a double play in the sixth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies during game three of the NLDS for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images
The New York Mets have made their next big move of the off-season, re-signing veteran left-handed pitcher Sean Manaea to a three-year contract worth $75 million. Jeff Passan of ESPN broke the news early Monday morning on X/Twitter:
Manaea returns after a strong campaign with the Mets in 2024. They signed the Southpaw to a one-year contract worth $14.5 million last off-season after two unimpressive seasons in 2022 and 2023 with the San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants. Manaea ended up being a huge steal for the Mets.
He pitched a career-high 181.2 innings while working to a 3.47 ERA, 3.83 FIP, and 1.08 WHIP. Manaea struck out nearly a quarter of opponents with a 24.9% K% while carrying a respectable 8.5% walk rate and 1.04 HR/9. Both his 88.6 MPH exit velocity and 7.5% barrel rate were above the 50th percentile of pitchers this year.
Sean Manaea returns to the Mets with a three-year pact.
Manaea rebounded after several different adjustments to his game. He lowered his arm angle from 28 degrees in 2023 to just 22 degrees last season. His sinker became his most-used pitch again for the first time since 2021. While he sacrificed some velocity off of his pitch mix, each of his offerings gained more movement.
The only major red flags for Manaea are his okay but not great ERA estimators. He had a 4.04 xFIP and 3.96 SIERA, which are still above average. He is also entering his age-33 campaign in 2025, and the deal will not expire until after the 2027 season. Regardless, Manaea was one of the best starting pitchers on the free agent market, as MLB Trade Rumors ranked him as the tenth-best free agent and fifth-best SP free agent.
Manaea also brings some stability to a rotation that desperately needs it. The Mets are taking a gamble on using Clay Holmes as a starter and hoping for a Frankie Montas rebound. Manaea will likely slot in behind the 2023 National League Rookie of the Year runner-up and all-star Kodai Senga in the Mets’ starting five.
Leave a Reply