Inside The Mets

AL Contender Linked to Mets' Ace Ahead of Free Agency

One of the New York Mets' top performers this season is expected to be pursued by a top-tier AL team in free agency.

Grant Young

Sep 27, 2024; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; New York Mets pitcher Sean Manaea (59) reacts after giving up a grand slam home run to Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Rhys Hoskins (12) in the first inning at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
Sep 27, 2024; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; New York Mets pitcher Sean Manaea (59) reacts after giving up a grand slam home run to Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Rhys Hoskins (12) in the first inning at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images / Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
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New York Mets starting pitcher Sean Manaea didn't produce his best performance against the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday.

The 32-year-old conceded 5 earned runs (4 of which came on a grand slam from Brewers first baseman Rhys Hoskins) along with 7 hits and 2 walks in 3.2 innings pitched.

While this poor outing did not come at a good time for the Mets, it doesn't take away from the fact that Manaea has been fantastic for them all season long.

After signing a 2-year, $28 million contract — which includes a player option after this season — with New York in January, Manaea has amassed a 12-5 record with a 3.47 ERA and 184 strikeouts in 181.2 innings pitched.

The 3.47 ERA is the lowest of his career in a season where he has thrown more than 30 innings. This successful campaign could not have come at a better time for Manaea, as all indications are that he will opt out of his deal this offseason and test the free agency market, where he will almost certainly command a higher price than the $13.5 million he'd earn next year by opting into his current deal with the Mets.

While the Mets are likely to try and re-sign Manaea if and when he does test free agency, a September 26 article from the New York Post's Jon Heyman suggests that a top AL contender will also likely come calling.

"Baltimore likes Sean Manaea, too," Heyman wrote. "They made a run at him two years ago, but he went with the Giants."

And Heyman also made clear that there will be other suitors for Manaea's services.

"He’ll have a big market after opting out," Heyman noted of Manaea.

While Manaea's future in New York may be murky, as least the Mets have him for this postseason — if they make it in.

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Grant Young
GRANT YOUNG

Grant Young covers the New York Yankees, the New York Mets, and Women’s Basketball for Sports Illustrated’s ‘On SI’ sites. He holds an MFA degree in creative writing from the University of San Francisco, where he also played Division 1 baseball for five years. He believes Mark Teixeira should have been a first ballot MLB Hall of Fame inductee.

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