The first 162 regular season games are crucial for putting food on the table, but postseason baseball is where players can decide if their meal will be fast food or a more upscale delivery, like that local Peruvian spot with tough parking. The New York Mets have several free agents on their roster who have the chance to enjoy pachamanca over chicken nuggets.
While the focus remains on winning games rather than padding their future contracts, the postseason performance of two Mets players has boosted their free-agent prospects. Conversely, one player’s underwhelming October could hurt his financial outlook.
Mets pitcher Sean Manaea is setting himself up for generational wealth with his next contract.
Through three postseason starts, Manaea has been outstanding, boasting a 2-0 record and a 2.65 ERA over 17 innings. In an era where starting pitchers often have short outings in the playoffs, manager Carlos Mendoza has wisely stuck with his ace from the regular season. As long as Manaea can keep his sometimes shaky control in check, he’s on track to land a lucrative deal after opting out of his current contract and likely rejecting the qualifying offer heading his way.
Manaea has consistently pitched the minimum five innings required to qualify for a win and has not been overworked, throwing a maximum of 91 pitches in the Mets’ 7-2 Game 3 win against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Though he hasn’t had a completely clean outing, it hasn’t hurt him much, as the teams he’s faced have struggled to do significant damage. The Milwaukee Brewers managed six hits off him in five innings during Game 2, but since then, Manaea has given up just five more hits over his next 12 innings.
After an impressive regular season, Manaea has already climbed the ranks of top available starting pitchers this offseason. His strong postseason, which could continue, will only enhance his market value.
