DONE DEAL JUST NOW: Mets confirm another star player deal done just now

Mets ace Sean Manaea is expected to opt out of his contract after the season, though it’s not a reflection of his feelings about his first year in New York.

On “The Show” podcast with Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman, Manaea shared that he’s enjoyed his time with the Mets and is open to returning.

“I’d heard it was going to be really challenging, and it is, but being prepared for that made a difference,” Manaea said on the Sept. 10 episode. “This already feels different than my time in California. I’ve loved every moment here. We’ll see what happens, but it wouldn’t take much convincing to stay.”

The 32-year-old left-hander signed a two-year, $28 million deal with an opt-out, earning $14.5 million this year, and would make $13.5 million next season if he remains. However, after an impressive season — 11-5 record, 3.35 ERA, and 171 strikeouts over 164 innings — he’s positioned for a much larger contract, likely surpassing the $14.5 million per year.

Fortunately for the Mets, Manaea has enjoyed his time on the East Coast after his years in California (A’s, Padres, Giants) and has built a strong relationship with pitching coach Jeremy Hefner. It also doesn’t hurt that Mets owner Steve Cohen is baseball’s wealthiest owner.