Mets News: Sean Manaea free agent bump, Jeff McNeil return, Jesse Winker

The Game 3 win for the New York Mets puts history on their side. Teams who win the third game in a best of 5 have the advantage in just about every instance other than if it was to fight off elimination. The Philadelphia Phillies are good enough to steal one at Citi Field and then do as they must back home on Friday. The Mets are in the driver’s seat for Game 4. The biggest reason of all for it was the dominance on the mound by Sean Manaea.

A free agent signing many doubted, he has surpassed all sorts of expectations in what has become the best and most important season of his career. Expected to opt out of his second year of the deal, Manaea leads the way as the biggest priority for the Mets to re-sign.

The Mets, with seemingly a wide open starting staff, will have the advantage with Manaea who absolutely should receive a qualifying offer this winter. The penalties that come with signing a player who turns down the QO would be enough to scare off a couple of teams. 

The Mets are trying something unique with Jeff McNeil

The Mets want Jeff McNeil back. As long as he’s willing to wear the Happy Jeff mask. Absent from the team with a wrist injury for about a month, the Mets have petitioned MLB to allow him to play in the Arizona Fall League.

The AFL is usually reserved for up-and-coming prospects close to major league ready. It’s a good jumping off point to get some extra at-bats, inning on the mound, or in the case of the Mets, prepare a player for the next round of the playoffs.

Because of the timing, McNeil would probably be more of a consideration for the World Series than the NLCS. The Mets still haven’t used Adam Ottavino or Danny Young this postseason. Replacing one of those pitchers is the logical roster move to make.

Moments like this make you want Jesse Winker back

When Jesse Winker added to the Mets lead, each at-bat by the Phillies became weaker. The difference between 1-0 and 2-0 is gigantic. In the only way he knew how, Winker posed at the plate as he enjoyed the ball flying over the wall.

Winker had a strange regular season with the Mets. His August was tremendous. His September was forgettable. The Mets have made good use of him in the postseason. While not in the starting lineup each day, Winker has contributed with two big hits. His triple in Game 1 against the Milwaukee Brewers and home run against the Phillies are the lone hits he has had.

Interestingly, the Mets have won the four games Winker has started over J.D. Martinez and lost the other two. Could Winker actually have a seat at the table for the Mets next year in a corner outfielder/DH situation? A sluggish September from Winker was probably enough to squeeze out and enjoy whatever they can get from him in the playoffs even if it means having to pay for new helmets.