The Mets have reportedly brought back their ace from their magical 2024 season.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, New York has signed Sean Manaea to a three-year, $75 million deal, securing a top-of-the-rotation arm that they desperately needed to complement the blockbuster signing of Juan Soto.
Manaea, 32, signed a two-year deal with the Mets last season with an opt-out after year one, which the lefty used after posting a 3.47 ERA through a career-high 181.2 innings. But it was his second half of the season that made him one of the premier free agent starters this winter, as he posted a 3.40 ERA with 127 strikeouts in 124.1 innings from July 1 through the end of the team’s playoff run, as Manaea lowered his arm slot midway through the season and turned into a different pitcher.
With Manaea back in the fold, the Mets have a rotation that also includes David Peterson, Clay Holmes, Kodai Senga, Frankie Montas, and potentially Griffin Canning, as New York will likely deploy a six-man rotation in 2025.
Of course, the offseason isn’t over yet, so other additions could be made between now and spring training.