The New York Mets truly seem like the heroes of this off-season. Steve Cohen effortlessly managed to snag Juan Soto off the market from the New York Yankees; it did cost him $765 million, but what’s this number to a billionaire like him? However, this is not where the Mets stopped with their competitive signing; they have added Clay Holmes and Frankie Montas too. Even though the Pete Alonso deal seemed to go nowhere, the cards might have fallen in their favor, and he may return.
Plus, now, the team has another name added to their bullpen—Sean Manaea. They are signing him for a three-year, $75 million deal, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Manaea’s arrival adds just another reliable arm to the mix. However, Manaea’ isn’t just a reliable arm; he is much more, and Mets voice Howie Rose recently revealed that on Twitter.
A pitching star with a heart of gold
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Longtime Mets voice Howie Rose shared on X the great news about Sean Manaea. In his post, Rose not only celebrated the Mets bringing the top-tier pitcher back but also highlighted what an authentic and great guy Manaea really is. “Happy Festivus, @Mets fans. Not only have the Mets brought back a terrific pitcher, but Sean Manaea is one of the nicest, friendliest, most down-to-earth people to come through their clubhouse in years. Always smiling, yet fiercely competitive. Great move,” Rose wrote.
Manaea’s genuine character that Rose highlighted actually was on full display during the All-Star break. Unlike many of his teammates, he chose to stay in the city, spending time with his mother and fiancée. But staying in the city meant one challenge: how to keep his arm in shape with Citi Field on break, so, one afternoon, Sean Manaea went to Central Park, hoping to find a wall where he could throw his Plyo balls.
Instead, he came across a group of players in a league name—some recognized him, and a few players asked for photos, but Manaea had a different request. “I asked them if they wanted to play catch,” Manea noted. The group was more than thrilled, and so for the next half hour, Sean Manaea tossed balls with members of the softball league, highlighting just how approachable he truly is.
Sean Manaea’s transformation with the Mets
Manaea, in his time before the New York Mets, did have his struggles. However, after reaching New York, Sean made changes that helped him blossom beautifully. He had adopted Chris Sale’s pitching style, adjusted his velocity, lowered his arm angle, and made himself too tough to handle for hitters. The result spoke for itself—he is currently one of the top 10 starters in strikeouts and posted a 3.59 ERA.
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In the postseason, he delivered 17 innings with a 2.65 ERA. And despite a tough Game 6 in the NLCS against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Manaea has proved his worth. By the opening day in 2021, he will be 33 and be a dependable starter, giving the Mets that edge they need. Coming into 2024, Manaea had signed a $28 million deal with the NY Mets, and it included an opt-out after his first year. This season, he used that option and became a free season, and it has paid off big time.
Sean’s old contract had paid him around $14 million per year; however, this new contract will get him $25 million per year. So, what do you think about this new journey of Sean Manaea? Let us know in the comments below.