NEW YORK -- Sean Manaea is set to return to the New York Mets on a three-year, $75 million contract, according to a person familiar with the agreement.
Manaea blossomed into New York's top starting pitcher this year during his first season with the team, going 12-6 with a 3.47 ERA in 32 starts. The left-hander declined his player option for 2025, passing up the final $13.5 million of a two-year, $28 million deal he signed in January, to become a free agent for the third straight offseason.
Then he turned down a $21.05 million qualifying offer from the Mets last month to hit the open market again.
The reunion with Manaea, who turns 33 on Feb. 1, gives New York a much-needed frontline starter to help complete its reconstructed rotation. After signing slugger Juan Soto to a record 15-year, $765 million deal, owner Steve Cohen has committed $916.25 million to five free agents this offseason -- four of them starting pitchers.
The club also inked right-handed newcomers Frankie Montas (two years, $34 million), Clay Holmes (three years, $38 million) and Griffin Canning (one year, $4.25 million). Holmes, a two-time All-Star as the New York Yankees' closer, plans to convert from a reliever to a starter.
Manaea struck out 184 batters and walked 63 in a career-high 181 2/3 innings this year. He lowered his arm slot in midseason to emulate another nasty left-hander, NL Cy Young Award winner Chris Sale of the Atlanta Braves, and became New York's most effective starter down the stretch, with a 6-2 record and 3.09 ERA in his final 12 regular-season outings.
During the playoffs, Manaea went 2-1 with a 4.74 ERA in four starts covering 19 innings as the Mets made a surprise run to the National League Championship Series.
A trio of veteran starters then became free agents: Manaea, Luis Severino and Jose Quintana. Severino signed a three-year, $67 million contract with the Athletics.
Manaea's agreement matches the three-year, $75 million deal free agent right-hander Nathan Eovaldi got to remain with the Texas Rangers. Eovaldi turns 35 in February.
Manaea, Montas and Holmes figure to have spots in a projected 2025 rotation that includes incumbents Kodai Senga and David Peterson. Canning, Tylor Megill, Paul Blackburn and Jose Buttó are among the candidates who could help round out the group.
A nine-year major league veteran, Manaea is 77-62 with a 4.00 ERA in 198 starts and 30 relief appearances with Oakland (2016-21), San Diego (2022), San Francisco (2023) and the Mets. He pitched a no-hitter for the A's against Boston in April 2018.
Manaea was selected 34th overall by the Kansas City Royals in the 2013 amateur draft out of Indiana State.