Mets decline Maton's option and offer Alonso, Manaea, and Severino qualifying offers

In their initial significant business moves of the offseason, the New York Mets opted not to exercise the 2025 contract option for reliever Phil Maton and extended $21.05 million qualifying offers on Monday to starting pitchers Sean Manaea and Luis Severino.

As a result of the Mets declining Maton's $7,775,000 option, he has become a free agent, with the team opting for a $250,000 buyout instead.

Additionally, New York issued a $21.05 million qualifying offer to first baseman Pete Alonso, a decision that had been anticipated for some time. Alonso, Manaea, and Severino have until 4 p.m. EST on November 19 to accept the one-year offer.

Should they accept, they will be contracted with the Mets for the 2025 season. Conversely, if they decline and sign with another team, that team will be required to forfeit draft picks, and the Mets will receive at least one draft pick as compensation.

Severino appears to be the most probable candidate to accept the offer. The 30-year-old right-handed pitcher recorded an 11-7 record with a 3.91 ERA over 31 starts in his inaugural season with the Mets, earning a $13 million salary in 2024 after spending his first eight seasons in Major League Baseball with the New York Yankees.

Since the introduction of qualifying offers following the 2012 season, only 13 out of 131 offers have been accepted.

Manaea opted not to exercise his $13.5 million option, marking his third consecutive offseason as a free agent. In January, the left-handed pitcher signed a contract that guarantees a $14.5 million salary for the 2024 season. Over the course of 32 starts, the 32-year-old recorded a 12-6 win-loss record with a 3.47 ERA, accumulating 184 strikeouts and 63 walks across 181 2/3 innings.

After adjusting his arm slot during the midseason, he emerged as the Mets' most reliable starting pitcher, finishing the season with a 6-2 record and a 3.09 ERA in his final appearances.

In the postseason, Manaea posted a 2-1 record with a 4.74 ERA over four starts, totaling 19 innings pitched, as the Mets unexpectedly advanced to the National League Championship Series before being defeated by the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

Maton concluded his first season with New York with a 2-1 record and a 2.51 ERA, along with one save in 31 appearances, after being acquired from Tampa Bay on July 9. Overall, he finished with a 3-3 record and a 3.66 ERA in a career-high 71 games, earning a salary of $6.25 million.

However, the 31-year-old right-hander faced challenges during the postseason, recording an 0-1 record and an 8.53 ERA in six appearances, during which he allowed four home runs, 11 hits, and issued four walks in 6 1/3 innings.

Additionally, the Mets claimed right-hander Kevin Herget off waivers from the Milwaukee Brewers and infielder Luis De Los Santos from the Toronto Blue Jays.

Left-handers Matt Gage and Joey Lucchesi, along with outfielder DJ Stewart, were outrighted to Triple-A Syracuse, with Lucchesi and Stewart opting for free agency.