Here’s the latest Mets free agency and trade buzz during the 2024-25 MLB offseason…
Dec. 9, 7:30 p.m.
As the Mets look to continue building their starting rotation, SNY’s MLB Insider Andy Martino says he’s sensing “increasing optimism” around the club on a potential reunion with Sean Manaea.
“Towards the end of the season my read on this if you’re the Mets was we love Sean, we appreciate Sean, but that market might outpace where we go on starting pitching,” Martino said on Monday’s Mets Hot Stove. “But the vibe I’m getting now is that they love him so much that they might be willing to stretch a little.
“If someone comes in with five or six years for a pitcher already in his 30s, he’s probably going to that team. But it seems as if the Mets have remained in contact and remain feeling pretty good about that.”
Manaea certainly has put himself in a tremendous spot this offseason following his breakout campaign in which he pitched to a 3.47 ERA and 1.08 WHIP while making a career-high 32 starts with the Mets.
The southpaw enjoyed his time in the Big Apple and said he’d ‘love to be back’ at the end of the season.
While there is plenty of competition for his services, bringing Manaea back into the mix would be a tremendous boost for a rotation that’s already added his good friend Frankie Montas and former Yankees closer Clay Holmes this offseason.
Nov. 28, 10:33 a.m.
Like the Mets and Yankees, the Blue Jays remain focused on the Juan Soto sweepstakes, but they are also keeping an eye out for other targets in case the superstar outfielder lands elsewhere.
On the pitching front, Toronto is among teams that are showing interest in former Mets right-hander Luis Severino, according to Ben Nicholsen-Smith of Sportsnet.
Severino turned down New York’s qualifying offer last week with hopes of earning himself a multi-year pact on the open market.
The veteran is coming off a strong year in which he stayed healthy and pitched to 3.91 ERA across 31 outings.