NEW YORK (AP) — On Friday night, Sean Manaea and the New York Mets finalized a three-year contract worth $75 million, ensuring that one of the team’s standout pitchers from last season will remain a key part of their revamped rotation.
The agreement, made earlier in the week, was contingent upon a successful physical.
In 2024, Manaea emerged as the Mets’ top starter in his first year with the team, finishing with a 12-6 record and a 3.47 ERA over 32 appearances. The left-hander opted to decline his $13.5 million player option for 2025, part of the $28 million, two-year contract he had signed in January, choosing instead to become a free agent for the third consecutive offseason.
Additionally, Manaea rejected a $21.05 million qualifying offer from the Mets last month to return to free agency.
“Sean was an integral part of what the team accomplished last season,” said Mets president of baseball operations, David Stearns. “He impressed on the field leading the rotation and in the clubhouse with his character, attitude, and composure. I am excited to watch him continue to flourish over the next few years.”
Manaea, who will turn 33 on February 1, provides the Mets with a much-needed frontline starter to solidify their new-look rotation. After securing a record $765 million, 15-year deal for slugger Juan Soto, Mets owner Steve Cohen has committed $916.25 million to five free agents this offseason, including four starting pitchers.
The Mets also signed right-handed pitchers Frankie Montas ($34 million, two years), Clay Holmes ($38 million, three years), and Griffin Canning ($4.25 million, one year). Holmes, a two-time All-Star as the New York Yankees’ closer, will transition to a starting role.
This season, Manaea struck out 184 batters and walked 63 over a career-high 181 2/3 innings. He made an adjustment to his pitching mechanics midseason, lowering his arm slot to mimic NL Cy Young winner Chris Sale of the Atlanta Braves. This change helped Manaea become the Mets’ most effective starter in the final stretch of the regular season, recording a 6-2 record and a 3.09 ERA in his last 12 starts.
In the postseason, Manaea went 2-1 with a 4.74 ERA and 19 strikeouts over 19 innings as the Mets made a surprising run to the National League Championship Series.
Manaea joined fellow veteran starters Luis Severino and Jose Quintana in free agency. Severino signed a $67 million, three-year contract with the Athletics.
Manaea’s deal mirrors the $75 million, three-year contract received by free-agent right-hander Nathan Eovaldi to stay with the Texas Rangers, though $23 million of Manaea’s deal will be deferred. Eovaldi will turn 35 in February.
Manaea, Montas, and Holmes are expected to be part of the Mets’ 2025 rotation, alongside returning pitchers Kodai Senga and David Peterson. Other candidates for the rotation include Canning, Tylor Megill, Paul Blackburn, and Jose Buttó.
A nine-year MLB veteran, Manaea has a career record of 77-62 with a 4.00 ERA in 198 starts and 30 relief appearances with the Oakland Athletics (2016-21), San Diego Padres (2022), San Francisco Giants (2023), and Mets. He also pitched a no-hitter for the A’s against Boston in April 2018.
Manaea was selected 34th overall by the Kansas City Royals in the 2013 amateur draft out of Indiana State.
Last month, Manaea received the Ben Epstein/Dan Castellano Good Guy Award from the New York chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America for his consistent cooperation with the media.
Manaea’s contract includes an annual salary of $25 million, with $7.75 million deferred without interest, payable in $2.325 million installments each July 1 from 2035 to 2044.
Additional performance-based bonuses include $50,000 for making the All-Star Game (if he agrees to participate), $50,000 for winning a Cy Young Award, $25,000 for finishing second, and $10,000 for finishing third. He can earn $100,000 for being named World Series MVP and $50,000 for LCS MVP or winning a Gold Glove. Manaea is also entitled to a hotel suite during road trips.
Deferred payments include $2.325 million each July 1 from 2035-37 for the 2025 season, $775,000 on July 1, 2038, and further deferrals in 2026 and 2027, spread across multiple years.
