5 upcoming Mets free agents helping their offseason stock with a strong September

Finishing strong became a must for the New York Mets if they wanted to make up for lost time. Go figure. They’ve been one of the hottest teams all month.

Despite the absence of Francisco Lindor from the lineup and some epic ongoing slumps for some of their players, this team has gotten some major contributions from several upcoming free agents.

1) Sean Manaea

Everyone involved with reaching between Sean Manaea’s ears and turning him into what he has been this year for the Mets deserves a lot of credit. Most of the applause, however, should go directly aimed at him. He’s the one putting in the work and getting the results.

After another marvelous outing on Saturday, Manaea is 12-5 on the year with a 3.29 ERA. The strong September has only furthered the case to bring him back next year. His free agent stock is skyrocketing.

Through 5 starts, Manaea is 2-0 with a 2.36 ERA. He has fanned 34 hitters in 34.1 innings of work. His 0.70 WHIP is outstanding as is the .133 batting average against him this month.

Manaea didn’t go into this year as an expected top free agent candidate for the 2024-2025 offseason. Well, look at him now. He won’t be in the same top tier as Corbin Burnes and Max Fried who have better resumes and age more on their side. At 32, Manaea has already secured himself more than a one-year deal with a player option for the second—what the Mets gave him last offseason. Lucky for us, the qualifying offer the Mets will inevitably give him after he opts out should help give them a minor advantage in keeping him around.

Although not technically a free agent yet, he’d be foolish to opt into his contract next year. It doesn’t matter how much fun he’s having. Manaea is going to capitalize on this season’s performance.

3) Jose Quintana

Let’s finish off the praise with one more starting pitcher. Leftover from the Billy Eppler era, Jose Quintana’s two-year deal expires at the end of the 2024 season. Maybe not someone too many fans would line up to bring back, he has lowered his ERA on the year down to 3.74 due in large part to three very good September starts.

It doesn’t get much better than what Quintana has done this month. A perfect 3-0 with zero runs allowed (earned or unearned), he has gotten hot at the exact right time. Previously viewed as someone who’d be on the “outs” of a potential postseason start and maybe even left off the roster entirely, his sudden surge and experience should have the Mets at least weighing him as an option.

Quintana remains a high-contact pitcher, striking out only 14 batters in 20.2 innings. However, with 10 hits, he has managed to accumulate a 0.68 WHIP this month. That’s the kind of number you’d expect from a high-leverage reliever.

Through some turbulent times this season, Quintana appears to have come back to his best this month. Was it the added pressure of free agency? Nah. This guy has been too good, too often for what we saw in August and a few other times this season to be the reality. He won’t get a long multi-year contract because of his age. Quintana will, instead, get something close to what the Mets gave him during his last trip into free agency. Don’t forget to adjust for inflation.

4) Jose Iglesias

The absolute hardest Mets free agent to predict is Jose Iglesias. If your Bingo card had him being this impactful of a player this season, you probably tossed it in the trash during spring training. His presence is easily the best story of the year both on the field and off.

Mr. OMG hasn’t slowed down either. His September has featured a .375/.403/.469 slash line. He leads the Mets with 24 hits. In the absence of Jeff McNeil and now Lindor, the team hasn’t missed a beat up the middle.

A fantastic defender, clutch hitter, and whimsical marketer, it’s difficult to imagine Iglesias wearing any other team’s uniform next year. But as a minor league free agent signing who has made plenty of stops elsewhere, it’s very plausible for someone to view Iglesias as an everyday solution at one of their infield positions up the middle. Could the Seattle Mariners who always seem desperate for some sort of high-contact hitter buy in and pay him to play every day?

Iglesias was never projected to get any big bucks nor will his continued success in September make him one of the more sought after free agents. Don’t underestimate him. Everyone else did at the start of the year, even the Mets who chose to go into Opening Day with Zack Short and Joey Wendle instead of the team’s savior.

5) Pete Alonso

We can’t forget the big guy. Under a microscope for much of the season, the man couldn’t breathe without a reference to his performance with runners in scoring position. Undoubtedly the biggest turnoff when it comes to a reunion with Pete Alonso, his strong September performance should at least even things out a little more when it comes to any future negotiations he has with the Mets or anyone else.

Alonso remains a polarizing figure in New York sports. That’s what power hitters are in this sport. Add in being homegrown, candid, and uniquely talented within the scope of the franchise’s history because of his power, it’s easy to understand why fans have strong opinions in either direction for the slugging first baseman.

Alonso has quietly put together a solid September batting .262/.388/.477. His 16 hits are second on the team to Iglesias. His 4 home runs trail only Francisco Alvarez who is paying homage to the Atlanta Braves by tomahawking baseballs over the outfield wall. Perhaps that’s an early troll for later this week.

Nobody needed a strong end to their free agent season than Alonso. He had the most to lose this year. While probably already headed toward earning a little less money than originally thought, a powerful and productive conclusion to the regular season with him as a focus of the Mets’ success will inevitably help add a few million more to his free agent deal.