The Mets are getting back their de facto ace.
New York is re-signing LHP Sean Manaea to a three-year contract worth $75 million, per multiple reports.
ESPN's Jeff Passan first reported the news.
Manaea's contract includes $23.25 million in deferred money that will be paid out from 2035 to 2044, per Will Sammon of The Athletic.
The deal comes a year after the 32-year-old parlayed a two-year contract (with an opt-out) he signed with the Amazin’s before the 2024 season into this new lucrative one. In that time, Manaea had a 3.47 ERA and a 1.084 WHIP.
Of course, those numbers were other-worldly in the second half of the season once he adopted the arm angle of fellow southpaw, and 2024 NL Cy Young winner, Chris Sale. From July to the end of the season, Manaea allowed just 37 runs over 105.1 innings pitched. For a team that was missing their 2023 ace in Kodai Senga, Manaea's performance in the final months helped the Mets make it to the postseason.
He was also great in the playoffs. He allowed just three runs over 12 innings in his starts against the Brewers in the Wild Card Series and the Phillies in the NLDS, but ran out of steam in the NLCS against the Dodgers.
In his two starts against Los Angeles, he allowed seven runs over seven innings and was on the mound in the deciding Game 6.
When the Mets' season was over, Manaea was candid about his desire to return to Queens.
“I’ve loved my time here,” he said after his Game 6 loss. “I love New York, the organization and all the people here, so I’d definitely love to be back.”
And now that Manaea is back, he’ll rejoin Senga and David Peterson in the rotation, which will also include newly-signed Frankie Montas and former Yankees closer Clay Holmes.