It’s only Dec. 13, but are the New York Mets already done holiday shopping?
Bringing Juan Soto to Queens was a huge declaration from the Mets, who look to be set up for a long window of World Series contention. But they still have roster holes to fill, and the rest of the league is quickly snatching up many of their best options.
The starting rotation is the most obvious problem area for the Mets right now, and Sean Manaea, who starred for New York in 2024, is still waiting to be signed. He’s not a slam-dunk ace like Corbin Burnes or Max Fried, but he’d be hugely helpful to fixing the Mets’ issues.
If the Mets are hoping for a reunion, however, there’s another team desperate for pitching help that could stand in their way.
On Friday, Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report predicted that Manaea would sign with the Orioles on a four-year, $76 million contract, leaving the Mets with a lot of question marks in their projected rotation.
“After two years of struggling in the NL West despite home games coming at two of the most pitcher-friendly venues in the majors, Sean Manaea was a completely different force with the Mets in 2024,” Miller said.
“Giving Corbin Burnes more than $200M probably isn’t in the cards for Baltimore, but this type of deal to pair Manaea with Zach Eflin and Grayson Rodriguez atop the rotation could absolutely work for the O’s.”
Manaea, 32, posted a 12-6 record with a 3.47 ERA this season, making 32 starts. He declined the $13.5 million player option built into the contract he signed last winter, as well as the Mets’ one-year, $21 million qualifying offer.
The Mets have to be careful with how this all plays out. The Orioles might have already been working to land Manaea while New York was celebrating the Soto deal. New York could use a lot more starting pitching help, and Manaea might be their best hope.
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