Which lefty with a no-hitter on his resume is best for the Mets this season?

I’m not sure if it has ever happened before but there are actually four lefties with a no-hitter on his resume that could end up pitching for the New York Mets in 2022.

Only one will. Two would have to be acquired via trade. The other pair is sitting out there in free agency.

We’ve discussed them all to some degree on Rising Apple. Something we haven’t done is compare them all. Today, we decide who the best fit is.

NY Mets trade candidate with a left arm and a no-hitter Sean Manaea

Sean Manaea tossed his no-hitter on April 21, 2018, against the Boston Red Sox. It was a good year for him. He has steadily maintained his reputation as a promising left-handed starter in the years since.

His entire major league career has been spent as a member of the Oakland Athletics. Holding a 50-41 record and 3.86 ERA through six seasons, he’s definitely getting traded in 2022. It’s just a matter of whether or not it happens before Opening Day or if the A’s hold him for ransom and ship him elsewhere midseason.

Manaea reaches free agency next winter so he’s only a short-term addition for the Mets or any other team looking to pull off a trade for him. Incredibly available, I like the idea of the Mets picking him up in a deal with Oakland along with at least one other player. Take your pick who that would be.

The Mets can’t possibly feel satisfied with their current rotation situation. And while Manaea will only supply them with a single season, he’s an innings eater with number three potential. Add in that he shouldn’t cost a whole lot in any trade and Manea shoots up to the top of our list by default but he could remain there for a little longer. Let’s see who else is out there.

NY Mets free agent candidate with a left arm and no-hitter Carlos Rodon

There’s a big benefit to Carlos Rodon. All he costs is money. Coming off of a fantastic year with the Chicago White Sox, he seemed to finally reach his full potential.

On April 14, 2021, Rodon showed those signs. He threw a no-hitter versus the future Cleveland Guardians. It was the start of a brilliant year.

Rodon went 13-5 with a 2.37 ERA last year. He finished fifth in the Cy Young race and would have had a chance to go further if he could do one other thing: stay healthy. Rodon made only 24 starts for Chicago last year which continues a theme throughout his career. Rodon, despite having some level of big league experience dating back to 2015, has never made more than 28 starts in a single campaign.

This should raise some red flags. Even in his career year last season, Rodon missed time. He’s actually a little bit more of a wild card than some other guys out there. Compared to Manaea, Rodon is anything but reliable.

The pair actually compare well to each other. Manaea has also missed some time in his career. Last season was his first reaching 30 starts in a season. He wasn’t as good as Rodon either which sways some of the advantage back into the free agent’s corner.

The trouble with Rodon, aside from his injury history, could be the fact that he has only one other season with an ERA below 4.00. This came back as a rookie in 2015. He’s the kind of guy you sign short-term and hope you win with him on the roster. If things don’t work out, you cut ties and wish him well.

We have a tough decision to make now. Do we trade for Manaea or pay Rodon? Let’s call it a draw for now and move on to another choice for the Mets.

NY Mets trade candidate with a left arm and a no-hitter John Means

After Rodon threw his no-hitter last year, John Means followed up with one of his own for the Baltimore Orioles. May 5, 2021, was the date when Means added his name to the history books. He took down the Seattle Mariners in his game of glory and goose eggs.

Means, despite being around the same age as Manaea and Rodon, is at a much different point of his career. He has three years of control left. He’s also on a ball club that was losing when he debuted and will probably continue to lose this year as well.

It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly when the Orioles will be good again. Means, with three more seasons before he reaches free agency, should remain a trade candidate on their roster until he finally is moved—or maybe extended?

Means has a 3.82 ERA in his career which lines up closely with what Manaea and Rodon have done. Not as well seasoned as those two, he has actually stayed relatively healthy in his major league career which is a huge plus.

Here’s the problem: the Orioles have no immediate need to trade him. He’s reaching arbitration eligibility for the first time this year so his salary won’t cut too deeply into their pockets. Means could get traded now for some decent talent. If he continues to get better, the Orioles can tell the Mets they want much more in return.

I like Means but compared to the price tag in free agent Rodon would command and how much less they’d need to give up to rent Manaea, I’m going to have to eliminate him. I wouldn’t say “no” if I was Mets general manager Billy Eppler. I just don’t think the Orioles are ready to part.

We have one more southpaw to look at. He’s a big one.