The New York Mets are focused on building a formidable pitching rotation for the 2025 season, re-signing Sean Manaea and adding Frankie Montas and Clay Holmes to the mix. Manaea had a breakout year in 2024, showcasing a career-best performance, while Montas brings a powerful fastball and swing-and-miss splitter, despite recent struggles and shoulder surgery. Holmes, primarily a reliever, is transitioning to starting, adding depth to the rotation.

Kodai Senga, who dealt with injuries last season, is also a vital piece, with expectations for a strong rebound. Manager Carlos Mendoza is confident in the depth of options available, including former All-Star Paul Blackburn and promising young arms. The Mets are looking to utilize a six-man rotation, ensuring they have sufficient pitching strength for the long season ahead.

The New York Mets have signed left-handed reliever A.J. Minter to a two-year, $22 million contract, pending a successful physical. The deal allows Minter to opt out after the 2025 season. Minter, who has spent his entire career with the Atlanta Braves, is recovering from left hip surgery conducted in August after he was diagnosed with a torn labrum and other issues. Last season, he recorded a 2.62 ERA and one save over 39 games.

Minter’s addition provides the Mets with a strong late-inning option to assist closer Edwin Díaz, filling a crucial role as they aim to bolster their bullpen after recent free agent additions to their starting rotation.

This offseason, the NL East has emerged as a financial powerhouse in Major League Baseball, largely due to the blockbuster signing of Juan Soto by the New York Mets for a staggering 15-year deal worth $765 million. The overall spending in the division reached nearly $973 million, but excluding Soto, the figure drops significantly to just over $207 million, indicating a mixed bag of activity among the teams.

The Philadelphia Phillies made strategic moves by acquiring Jesús Luzardo and adding depth to their bullpen, though questions linger about their overall improvement. Meanwhile, the Mets have focused heavily on revitalizing their pitching staff, bringing in multiple arms while hoping to retain star slugger Pete Alonso. The Atlanta Braves, however, have remained surprisingly quiet, opting to rely on internal options despite the free agency of key players.

The Washington Nationals have made modest additions but seem to be missing opportunities for significant upgrades, while the Miami Marlins appear to be in rebuilding mode, trading away veteran talents in favor of future prospects.

The NL East has become a financial powerhouse this offseason, primarily driven by the New York Mets' acquisition of superstar Juan Soto for a staggering 15-year contract. Despite this, when Soto's contributions are excluded, the division's spending drastically reduces, revealing a quieter market among its other teams. The offseason has seen the Phillies, Mets, Braves, Nationals, and Marlins making varying degrees of moves, with the Mets' actions standing out significantly.

The Philadelphia Phillies have focused on enhancing their pitching staff, acquiring Jesús Luzardo and signing several players, including Max Kepler and Jordan Romano, but did not make major roster overhauls following their disappointing playoff exit. The New York Mets, however, made headlines with Soto's signing and bolstered their pitching with the re-signing of Sean Manaea and the addition of other arms, aiming to solidify their rotation after losing several starters.

The Atlanta Braves have been relatively silent, opting to rely on internal options after a season marred by injuries, while the Washington Nationals made modest moves without breaking into the top-tier free-agent market. The Miami Marlins appear to be in full rebuild mode, parting with key players like Luzardo and focusing on future prospects.

Sean Manaea has officially signed a three-year contract worth $75 million with the New York Mets, solidifying his position as a top pitcher for the team following a successful 2024 season. Manaea, who finished the season with a 12-6 record and a 3.47 ERA over 32 games, previously declined a player option worth $13.5 million for 2025 and turned down a qualifying offer from the Mets, making him a free agent for the third consecutive year.

Mets president of baseball operations, David Stearns, praised Manaea for his contributions both on the field and in the clubhouse, expressing excitement about his continued development. This signing comes as part of a significant offseason for the Mets, who have committed over $916 million to five free agents, including the recent acquisition of slugger Juan Soto for a record $765 million over 15 years.

In addition to Manaea, the Mets have also brought in pitchers Frankie Montas, Clay Holmes, and Griffin Canning to bolster their rotation. Manaea's performance has been impressive, particularly in the latter half of the season, where he achieved a 6-2 record with a 3.09 ERA in his final 12 games. His playoff performance included a 2-1 record with a 4.74 ERA, contributing to the Mets' unexpected run to the National League Championship Series.

Manaea, who is set to turn 33 on February 1, has a career record of 77-62 with a 4.00 ERA across 198 starts and 30 relief appearances. He previously pitched a no-hitter for the Oakland Athletics in 2018 and was recognized for his rapport with the media by winning the Ben Epstein/Dan Castellano Good Guy Award.