Looks like the New York Mets have started to answer their pitching woes. The Queens-based franchise has been rather quiet ever since they lost the Yoshinobu Yamamoto sweepstakes. While reports showed that they were looking closely at the trade market, it looks like the Mets have found a short-term answer in the free agency market. 

While the Mets have already signed an ex-Yankees pitcher Luis Severino, they’ve always needed another hand in their bullpen. So they have handed a pretty big contract to a player who hasn’t been at his best in recent times. Is this becoming a pattern for the Mets?

Are the New York Mets turning into a rehabilitation team?

Famous Insider Jon Heyman just announced via his X account that the New York Mets have signed the 31-year-old former San Francisco Giants pitcher Sean Manaea to a two-year contract. Further reports indicated that the contract is worth $28 million with an opt-out clause attached to it. On paper, this looks like a big contract for the 31-year-old.

Manaea had an ERA of 4.44 in 2023. This was much better than his 4.96 in 2022. But as these numbers indicate, Manaea hasn’t been his top self for a long time. However, after a disastrous April where he posted a 7.85 ERA, Manaea did improve and ended September with a 2.67 ERA and a 2-1 record. Still signing struggling players is becoming a pattern for the Mets.

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Earlier in the offseason, they signed Luis Severino to a $13 million contract for one year. The former Yankees fastball merchant hasn’t been the same self since injuries and inconsistencies took hold of him. The Mets then went on to sign Harrison Bader, another former Yankee who hit only 7 home runs in two seasons with the Bombers.

Manaea looks to be the third struggling player to get added to an already struggling Mets squad. Is this the Mets just filling gaps for the time being, or are these signs of a changing strategy from the Amazin’ Mets?

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The Queens Franchise’s plan for the future

Most reports have indicated that the Mets aren’t interested in competing hard this year. Instead, they’re planning for 2025. When one looks at 2024 in that context, things start making more sense. The team is seemingly doing just enough to remain competitive but isn’t pushing on for the World Series this year. So in that case, filling their pitching gaps with these cheap one or two-year contracts is smart business.

But it’s just a surprising switch of lanes from a team that just last year put up the highest payroll in baseball history. Maybe next year we’ll witness the return of high-spending Mets or maybe this low-risk high-reward business could become the norm from now on.

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