Mets Pitcher Sean Manaea's Trade Value Rises as Performance Improves

Sean Manaea has posted solid recent numbers for the New York Mets, recording a 3.77 ERA and 24 strikeouts over his last five starts while limiting earned runs to three or fewer in four outings. The improvement follows a rough start to the season, when he posted a 6.55 ERA in April after velocity issues that led to a brief bullpen stint. Manaea is under contract for $25 million in each of the 2026 and 2027 seasons, and the Mets are assessing his value as a potential trade asset before the July‑31 deadline. Potential destinations include teams needing a third‑or‑fourth starter, with past deals such as Cole Hamels (2018) and Jake Peavy (2014) cited for reference. Mets General Manager David Stearns, who earlier said Manaea would be a "big part of this team," now faces the decision of retaining him versus moving his salary and risk to another club.