The first 162 regular season games provide the foundation for players’ livelihoods, but October baseball is where they can determine if they’ll be grabbing fast food or something a bit fancier, like DoorDash from that local Peruvian spot with the tricky parking. The New York Mets have a roster full of pending free agents, with a chance to enjoy pachamanca over chicken nuggets.
While the priority is on winning rather than boosting their contracts, two Mets players have notably improved their free-agent prospects. On the flip side, a third player’s disappointing October may have hurt his market value.
Mets pitcher Sean Manaea is going to feed his great grandchildren for life with his next contract
Sean Manaea has been outstanding in his three postseason starts for the Mets, posting a 2-0 record with a 2.65 ERA over 17 innings. At a time when many starting pitchers are pulled early in playoff games, Carlos Mendoza has smartly stuck with Manaea, his top regular-season arm. As long as he maintains control, which can sometimes be an issue, Manaea is positioning himself for a lucrative offseason, especially after opting out of his contract and likely rejecting the qualifying offer coming his way.
Manaea has consistently gone at least five innings—the minimum to qualify for a win—and hasn’t been overused, with a maximum of 91 pitches in the team’s 7-2 Game 3 win over the Phillies.
While he hasn’t thrown a flawless game, it hasn’t mattered much, as opposing teams have done little damage against him. The Brewers managed six hits in his five innings in Game 2, but since then, Manaea has only allowed five more hits in his next 12 innings.
After a strong regular season, Manaea was already climbing the list of top available starting pitchers this offseason. A continued stellar October could boost his stock even higher.
Surprisingly amazing Mets starter Jose Quintana can start a tab on the extra guac when he goes out to eat next
If you were considering moving Jose Quintana off the Mets roster or at least to the bullpen back in August, you weren’t the only one. He seemed to hit a rough patch. After a rollercoaster season, Quintana found his groove in late August and has been one of the best pitchers in baseball since then. While he may not land a huge contract, a one- or two-year deal with a salary increase to account for inflation seems likely.
In his first two postseason starts with the Mets, Quintana has yet to give up an earned run. His statistics are impressive: a strikeout per inning, a .150 batting average against him, and a 0.82 WHIP demonstrate his effectiveness.
Quintana doesn’t overwhelm batters with velocity; instead, he employs a crafty approach. While teammates like Manaea, Luis Severino, and most bullpen members exhibit pure physicality with each pitch, this veteran lefty has leaned heavily on his changeup for strikeouts. His changeup had a 36.2% whiff rate during the regular season, complemented by a curveball and slurve that both average under 80 mph—he’s more of a sniper than a machine gun.
Quintana’s ability to extend his regular-season success into the postseason has been crucial for the Mets’ survival thus far. Who would have thought this was a possibility back in August? Now, it’s up to him to help turn the tide in Game 4.
Jose Iglesias is struggle and might need to learn some recipes to make at home
Jose Iglesias has had an unproductive postseason. The starting second baseman, who also played as a defensive upgrade at third base instead of Mark Vientos, has managed only 9 hits in 40 at-bats with no extra-base hits. While he isn’t the sole issue with the Mets’ offense, Francisco Alvarez appears to be swinging wildly, as if trying to chop down a tree.
Given his outstanding regular season filled with impressive performances and statistics, Iglesias’s slump this postseason is somewhat unexpected. Is it due to age, playing every inning, or facing tougher pitching?
Regardless, his struggles are not helping his prospects for a new free-agent contract. After a season that should have positioned him for a starting role as a second baseman or shortstop, he now seems more like the backup player the Mets envisioned him to be.
For some fans, this twist of fate might be a silver lining, potentially making him more affordable. The Mets could benefit from his skills and leadership next season, using him against left-handed pitchers and giving him days off when facing righties. This is the player who gave us unforgettable moments, and while a postseason turnaround would be ideal, his struggles might lead to a part-time role, which could make re-signing him a consolation prize.
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