Sean Manaea’s latest stretch has given the Mets something they’ve been short on for much of this season: a real reason to look ahead.
Since the trade deadline, New York has somehow found a pulse, winning five of its last six games after shipping out eight of its most valuable pieces. That run has pushed the Mets to 52-67, still 10.5 games back of a wild-card spot, but the offense has put up 42 runs and the pitching has turned in several strong starts. Manaea has been one of the biggest reasons why.
The left-hander, who fans had largely written off, is starting to look like the pitcher Mets supporters saw only in the second half of 2024, when he was routinely working six innings without much drama. He opened 2026 in the bullpen in a “piggyback” setup, handling bulk innings during the Mets’ two bullpen-game weeks. But once he moved back into the rotation on June 13, the momentum never really stopped.
In 11 starts this season, Manaea has posted a 3.50 ERA with a 3-4 record, 61 strikeouts and only 18 walks. He’s gone at least six innings in six of those outings and allowed two or fewer runs in eight of them.
Sunday against the Pirates was his sharpest outing yet. Manaea went seven innings, gave up one run, struck out 11 and didn’t walk a batter. His fastball has also ticked up lately, touching at least 94 mph on 13 pitches over his last two starts.
“Slow work that we've been putting in over the last few months,” said Manaea to reporters on his recent velocity spike (h/t SNY Mets). “Feeling good mechanically. I was never worried about the velo as long as I stayed healthy.”
That kind of finish matters because Manaea is under contract for 2027. David Stearns signed him to a three-year, $75 million deal after his breakout 2024 season, and the Mets will owe him $25 million next year.
If he keeps pitching like this, why wouldn’t New York keep him in the mix? A reliable backend starter gives the Mets room to hunt for the real headliner they still need, plus depth around him.
There are other arms already making a case for 2027. Nolan McLean has looked like a future rotation anchor, putting up a 2.78 ERA with 38 strikeouts over his last five starts. Zac Thornton has turned in a 2.52 ERA across his first seven major-league starts, and Christian Scott has a 3.15 ERA in 16 outings.
The Mets also have more pitching help on the way in the minors, but the offseason will still shape the rotation picture. Even after adding nine new top-30 prospects at the deadline, New York still has a shot at the biggest name out there, Tarik Skubal. The 29-year-old is headed for a massive payday after maintaining elite production while returning from a mid-season injury.
Beyond Skubal, the free-agent board looks thin, with Kevin Gausman and former Met Freddy Peralta among the other names mentioned, though neither offers the kind of rotation-leading profile the Mets would want at the top. A trade could also be in play for a younger pitcher with control.
For now, though, Manaea’s turnaround is the clearest sign that the Mets may already have one useful piece for 2027 sitting right in front of them.
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