Sean Manaea is staying put in the Big Apple, and Mets fans couldn’t be happier. The lovable lefty, who turned his 2024 season into a masterclass on how to rejuvenate a career (and boost his market value), signed a three-year, $75 million deal to stick with New York. That’s right, the man who helped anchor the rotation, lowered his arm slot, and raised the Mets' postseason hopes is back for more.
“Sean was a huge part of what we achieved last season—on the mound, in the clubhouse, and, frankly, in giving New York commuters someone cool to spot on the subway,” said David Stearns, the Mets’ president of baseball operations. While some teams might have balked at a multi-year deal, the Mets happily doubled down on Manaea, who proved he’s as comfortable throwing seven scoreless innings as he is dodging rogue pizza rats.
Today, Sean Manaea sat down with the media—and Kiner’s Korner’s very own Mark Rosenman (yours truly)—via Zoom to discuss his much-anticipated return to the Mets. Manaea, flashing a grin that seemed bigger than Citi Field, joined the call from his car, ready to talk about everything from his free agency experience to the team’s offseason moves. The call kicked off with a question from MLB.COM's Bill Ladson that got right to the heart of it: “Why were the Mets the best fit for you?”
Manaea leaned back and smiled. “I think just based off of last year, with the coaching staff and everything that we had going on, I thought it was a perfect fit,” he said. “My wife, Talat, loved it on the family side too. Organizationally, they do so many great things. I learned so much from Hef [pitching coach Jeremy Hefner] and the rest of the staff. When they reached out and said they wanted to reunite, it was a no-brainer. After talking it over with Talat, we knew this was the right decision. We’re just super happy to be back.”
When asked what he’d learned from Hefner that fueled his impressive second half last season, Manaea didn’t hold back. “Hef allowed me to be myself,” he said. “He made it easy to experiment with new things and bounce ideas off him. Every bullpen session, he was there—through the bad times and the good. It was awesome to work with him.”
Will Sammon of The Athletic followed up with a question about free agency: Did Manaea ever think re-signing with the Mets wouldn’t happen? “Early in the offseason, a couple of teams reached out, but nothing really came of it,” Manaea admitted. “The Mets just made sense. This free agency was different, mostly in terms of the years we were looking for, but other than that, it was kind of the same—some talking, a week of nothing, and then boom, we’re making a deal.”
Dan Martin of The Post shifted gears to the Mets’ signing of Juan Soto. “What’s it going to be like playing with him again?” he asked. Manaea’s face lit up. “Juan’s amazing. I played with him in 2022 with the Padres. When he came over, you could feel his energy immediately. I’m just glad he’s on my team now. I don’t have to face him anymore!”
And what about Pete Alonso? “I’d love to have Pete back,” Manaea said, a hint of hope in his voice. “But whatever happens, I’ll support him. He’s such a big part of this team.”
Laura Albanese of Newsday dug into Manaea’s offseason prep, particularly his changeup. “It’s been my focus,” he revealed. “I know it can be great, but sometimes it’s just good. The goal is to make it consistently great. Offseasons are for experimenting, and I think we’re in a really good spot heading into spring training.”
When asked about working out with Alonso in Tampa, Manaea laughed. “We pretty much work out every day. He might get there earlier than I do, but we’re usually around the same time. We haven’t hung out much outside the gym yet, but that’ll change soon.”
Ronald Blum of the AP steered the conversation to the Mets’ family-friendly reputation. Manaea praised the team for its attention to detail. “We don’t have kids yet, so I can’t speak to the daycare, but Talat has said amazing things about how the organization communicates with families. They just make everything so easy.”
Abbey Mastracco of The Daily News brought up the Mets’ other offseason acquisitions, particularly Frankie Montas. “I love Frankie to death,” Manaea said with a chuckle. “He’s funny, competitive, and a dog on the mound. His stuff is incredible, and he’s a great human being. I’m excited to see what he adds to the clubhouse.”
As Manaea spoke about Montas, it was clear that his own evolution—both on and off the field—had shaped his perspective. When Sean returned this season, fans and teammates alike noticed something different—not just in his hair or the lower arm slot he began using in spring training, but in his entire approach to the game.
I had the opportunity to ask him what gave him the confidence to make such dramatic changes mid-career and how instrumental pitching coach Jeremy Hefner and the staff were in facilitating that evolution.
Sean shared that the journey started a few years ago in San Francisco. “At a certain point, I just kind of stopped overthinking,” he explained. “I leaned into the confidence that I was putting in the work and that I could go out there and throw the ball well without trying to be perfect in every single aspect.”
That mindset shift set the stage for the next level of growth. “This year, I built off that,” he continued, noting that even though he felt confident, there was still room to grow. “It got a little stale. I knew that feelings-wise, things could improve. And once I found that feeling—something that felt really good—I leaned into it, and from there, everything just kind of took off.”
Sean credited the coaching staff, particularly Jeremy Hefner, with helping him make those adjustments. “Having coaches who were constantly giving positive feedback—saying, ‘This is good metrically,’ or, ‘You look smooth’—breeds confidence,” he said. “It’s a snowball effect. Each success builds on the last, and by the end of the season, it’s one big culmination of small victories.”
Sean Manaea’s return to New York isn’t just a win for the Mets—it’s a win for everyone who loves a good comeback story. In an era where players are often defined by analytics and velocity, Manaea has shown that reinvention and resilience are just as vital. Whether it’s lowering his arm slot, sharpening his changeup, or mastering the fine art of subway etiquette, Sean is proof that growth doesn’t stop when you hit 30—or even when you dodge a rogue pizza rat.
The lovable lefty who made fans laugh, teammates better, and opposing hitters miserable is back where he belongs. With Jeremy Hefner’s guidance and a clubhouse full of talent (and maybe some new hair products), Manaea’s story is far from over. And if his recent evolution is any indication, Mets fans are in for a few more plot twists, a lot of strikeouts, and maybe even a parade down the Canyon of Heroes.
As Sean himself might say: Why overthink it? Sometimes, the right fit just feels... right.
HERE IS THE FULL PRESS CONFERENCE :
Comments