The Mets extended a qualifying offer to Manaea, who will almost certainly reject it. Once that happens, it will be time for the Mets to determine how much they want him back.

In their first set of major business decisions this offseason, the New York Mets have declined a 2025 contract option on reliever Phil Maton and made $21.05 million qualifying offers to starters Sean Manaea and Luis Severino.

The most inevitable news of the Mets’ offseason arrived Saturday: Sean Manaea opted out of his contract and became a free agent. Manaea’s two-year, $28 million deal — the largest awarded by the Mets last offseason — included a specific provision that allowed him to pass on the second year (and $13.5 million salary) if he wanted.