6 most important Mets players who won't be back next season

5) Sean Manaea

This is the prediction that comes with the most sadness. Even if his final regular season start was more Tom Glavine than Al Leiter, Sean Manaea is someone the Mets would benefit greatly from bringing back. They couldn’t have asked for much more from him this season. Not always viewed incredibly favorably because of his lack of control, he seemed to figure it all out and put together one of the best years of a one-and-done player in Mets history; that’s if he is only one-and-done.

Another Scott Boras client, it’s not his agent that’ll scare the Mets off from re-signing him. Instead, it’ll be Manaea’s contract request and the abundance of alternatives out there for them to sign instead. Manaea isn’t a young free agent. Even with the benefit of familiarity and a possible qualifying offer he’ll have to deal with, someone will be willing to give Manaea a better off than what the Mets throw his way.

The Mets are in a similar situation with Luis Severino. Another one-year rental (Manaea is a one-year guy because he’ll opt out), Severino is someone I do see coming back to the Mets. His success this year seems more sustainable. But watch Manaea rip our hearts out in an Atlanta Braves uniform for the next four seasons.

TLDR Version: Would love to have him back even with the dud finale in the NLCS. Unfortunately, he’s going to price himself too high and end up somewhere else.