Mets should offer Sean Manaea a contract extension before free agency, how much though?

Scott Boras clients never sign extensions. Well, he and Matt Chapman broke that stereotype. Just last week the San Francisco Giants third baseman signed a six-year extension worth $151 million. Far more than Sean Manaea would expect to get in his next deal, it’s worth having a conversation with Boras about keeping the best starting pitcher on the New York Mets staff in Queens.

Manaea turned in another huge performance for the Mets on Wednesday, allowing 1 run in 6.2 innings while keeping hope alive of a comeback. He received 0 runs and 0 hits of support. It took until the ninth inning for the bats to catch up.

Manaea is now 11-5 with a 3.35 ERA. The .202 batting average against him is fifth in MLB among qualified pitchers. Despite being heavy on walks, his 1.10 WHIP is still 16th among the qualified. There’s a lot to like about him, especially what he has done of late. How much could he be worth on a new deal?

The contract extension the Mets should offer Sean Manaea today

Now 5-2 with a 3.19 ERA in the second-half, Manaea’s free agent stock has risen and regularly coming up clutch has made him even more essential to retain. His market is only growing. 

If the Mets are looking to keep things at around three years, the Chris Bassitt deal with the Toronto Blue Jays is a close albeit uninflated example. He received a three-year deal worth $63 million after leaving the Mets. He did this after his age 33 season spent in New York.

Manaea is a year younger and with a few more years of inflation built up, would expect to get more. The rise of opt-outs as well, adding in an escape clause for Manaea after one or two seasons feels like a must. What if he has a renaissance in his mid-30s and starts challenging for the Cy Young?

Injuries weren’t the concern for Manaea like they were with Luis Severino. This is the fifth year he has topped 150 innings pitched. It’s actually more impressive if you look around the league at how few pitchers even get over that marker on a regular basis. Never an All-Star or a recipient of a vote for the Cy Young in the past, we can quickly look past those missing resume builders. It didn’t stop Brandon Nimmo from getting paid. It’s all about what Manaea will do.

Well worth a qualifying offer which is projected to be $21.2 million, we see a repeat close to the AAV Bassitt received of $21 million. It’s a large sum to hand over to a guy who exceeded expectations. However, with the Mets dropping as much dough off the books with Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander’s salaries gone, it’s not such a great burden.

Here’s the first offer: three years and $66 million with an opt out after the first year and team option on the third.

The Mets will need to pay at least two starting pitchers for next season’s rotation. Kodai Senga will (hopefully) be back. David Peterson looks like a lock. Bring back Manaea and we have three guys. One more spot will go to Christian Scott as long as he’s healthy. If not, we’d have to expect one other optional youngster (or Tylor Megill) to temporarily hold it down. Don’t forget, with Senga comes the greater need for a six-man rotation.

The Mets should go a little wild with spending on starting pitchers this offseason. Extending Manaea now would be a good start. Add Corbin Burnes and we have ourselves a Mets rotation people expect to be awesome.