NEW YORK — Sean Manaea, who emerged as the Mets’ ace down the stretch last season and shed tears as his time with the Mets came to an end in October, has reached an agreement to return, a source confirmed to the New York Daily News.
It’s a three-year, $75 million contract for the left-hander, with more than $20 million deferred from 2035-2044. This brings the Mets’ total payroll for 2025 to around $280 million, according to FanGraphs. With more retooling still needed, the Mets are likely to reach the “Cohen Tax” threshold of $301 million, named for owner Steve Cohen.
An emotional Manaea was hopeful for a return to Queens, but wanted to test free agency first. After one of the best seasons of his career, no agent in their right mind would have let him accept his option for 2025.
Manaea, who turns 33 in February, went 12-6 with a 3.47 ERA and 184 strikeouts over a career-high 181 2/3 innings in 2024, and he was particularly dominant as the season wore on. His 110 1/3 innings from June 26 on led MLB pitchers, while his 3.02 ERA over that stretch — a span of 18 starts — was the 11th-best mark in the National League.
He pitched at least 6 2/3 innings in 12 of his final 18 starts, turning into a workhorse for a Mets rotation that was without No. 1 starter Kodai Senga for all but one start in the regular season due to shoulder and calf injuries.
Manaea tweaked his delivery during that dynamic run, using a lower arm slot after observing Atlanta Braves ace Chris Sale during a July 25 game between the teams.
“I don’t really have any control over that right now, and I’m even thinking about it, but, yeah. I mean, I loved my time here, love New York, love the organization of all the people here,” Manaea said after the Mets were eliminated from the postseason in Los Angeles in October.
While his 4.74 ERA in the postseason did not match his regular-season success, Manaea was solid in three of his four playoff starts.
A popular fixture in the clubhouse and with the fans, Manaea’s laidback demeanor and curiosity about the world proved to be a perfect fit in New York. He took the subway to home games, taught chess to minor leaguers in spring training and explored New York’s international cultural scene. His recent wedding featured Francisco Lindor’s daughters, Kalina and Amapola, as flower girls and Manaea often joked about inviting the entire team if he could.