MLB Rumors: Mets' Sean Manaea 'Intends' to Decline $13.5M Contract Option for 2025

New York Mets starting pitcher Sean Manaea intends to decline his $13.5 million player option for 2025 and become a free agent, per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com.

Manaea, who turns 33 in February, went 12-6 with a 3.47 ERA (1.08 WHIP) in 32 starts last year, striking out 184 in 181.2 innings.

It's no surprise that the 6'5", 245-pound southpaw will become a free agent. He's coming off the best season of his nine-year career, one that helped the Mets reach the National League Championship Series for the first time since 2015. And he got even better in the second half of the year, as Christina De Nicola of MLB.com wrote:

"Manaea posted a 3.09 ERA and a .170 average against in 12 regular-season starts after debuting the new delivery on July 30. He took on the duty of ace and proved to be one of the Majors' best pitchers. From July until the end of the regular season, he ranked second in the Majors in quality starts (12), first in innings (105 1/3), sixth in strikeouts (108) and sixth in WHIP (0.93)."

Now's the time for Manaea to cash in on a great year.

But there's some logistics to get out of the way first. DiComo explained:

"His opt-out decision will likely prompt the Mets to extend him a qualifying offer, which is a one-year contract worth $21.05 million," DiComo wrote. "If Manaea rejects that, which is likely, the Mets would receive Draft pick compensation in the event he signs elsewhere."

The Mets, of course, could still bring him back into the mix. It wouldn't be a surprise to see them do so given how well he performed in Queens. The Mets Pod discussed that possibility recently.

Manaea has enjoyed his time in New York, saying after the season: "I love my time here. I love New York. I love the organization. I love all the people here."

But New York has big decisions to make on its starting rotation, with Manaea, Luis Severino and Jose Quintana all heading to free agency now. That trio combined to make 94 starts last year.

We'll soon find out what direction the Mets want to go, but it wouldn't be a surprise to see Manaea head back to Queens. Regardless, he's set to cash in big wherever he goes after a fantastic 2024 finish.