The New York Mets made a move on Sunday morning, to improve their starting rotation. It was not highly touted starting pitchers in Blake Snell or Jordan Montgomery.
Instead, it was another lefty starter in Sean Manaea. The Mets signed the southpaw to a two-year, $28 million contract. The deal includes an opt-out after the 2024 season.
Manaea will add more depth and options to the rotation. He has been a reliable pitcher for the good portion of his major league career, for the first 8 seasons. Although his overall numbers were subpar in the last two seasons.
Last season, Manaea was 7-6 with a 4.44 ERA, while pitching for the San Francisco Giants. He did finish strong in September, going 2-1 with a 2.67 ERA that month, while making four starts and one relief appearance. And after May 17, Manaea pitched to a 3.44 ERA, making starts and relief appearances, after a rough April. He also fanned 97 batters in 91 in that span.
Manaea will slide in the Mets rotation behind Kodai Senga and Jose Quintana, with Luis Severino and Adrian Houser behind him.
This is a great move at a reasonable cost (considering the market now).
Manaea has picked up velocity (to 97 mph) and added a sweeper. If he stays healthy, he’s a number 3 starter, in my opinion.
Don’t know if the opt out is player, team, or mutual. I’m guessing player.
FWIW, if it’s phrased as an “opt out,” it means a player option. If it’s in the control of the club, it’s phrased as a “team option.”
Thanks, Bryan.
Interesting that Manaea opted out of his contract with the Giants, giving up $12.5 million in 2024 and then signing for a bit more per year with the Mets, albeit on a two-year deal, with another opt out.
Agreed. I’m surprised that the Giants wouldn’t match or beat this offer. Makes you wonder if Manaea didn’t enjoy his time in SF or if the Giants know something we don’t…
I think this signing makes sense given where the Mets see themselves. It aligns with the plan. I can’t agree with calling this a “great” signing. It provides one year of control, but guarantees the player $28 million. The team owns all the risk – for reference see that Narvaez signing last year. If the player stinks this year, he won’t opt out, which is a double whammy to the team – the financial commitment (plus tax), and the consumption of a roster spot with a guy that underperformed the prior year.
Deep down, I agree with their approach of not committing big money long term to older free agents. The reality of that approach is that the Mets will be not even a solid wild card competitor, but a fringe one that will need a lot to go right combined with a little going wrong to get in to the post season…none of us know for sure, but I’d put the odds of them being sellers at the deadline and playing practice games in August/September much higher than the probability of them being buyers or standing par and making a run. I hope I’m wrong…they could change that calculus with a few shrewd, unsexy moves before opening day. Chicks dig big, backend bullpen arms almost as much as the long ball. Chicks also dig the 2022 version of Mr. Marte…strictly in the baseball one soon of course.
Well if it wasn’t perfectly clear where the Mets are heading, it is now. The team is looking to have modest intentions, and perhaps a bit of an “underdog” aura around them so expectations wont be bloated. Stearns clearly wants to fulfill Cohens plan to clear the books of the bloated contracts that were the product of “going for it,” replacing with much smaller short term deals. The current plan is a real reboot with the capacity to reshape the team, and make. A more balanced and sustainable product without non-stop shopping at the top of the FA market.
Manaea was in the Giant rotation until May 10th when his ERA climbed up to 7.96. He was relegated to the bullpen and his ERA consistently dropped. The Giants inserted him in the rotation September 12th. He spent 4 months in the bullpen and apparently he thought he should have been a starter. Maybe that is a reason that he opted out of the Giant contract. Except for 6 weeks, Manaea had a good season. He has been trending upward since May 10th . Stearns is expecting him to pitch to his career ERA of 4.10. That would make Manaea a good mid-rotation starter for a fair price for the next two years.
What a difference a year makes! After a 101 win season + the signing of Verlander, many pundits had the Mets as a strong playoff team with as good of a chance as anybody to get into the World Series. I didn’t see it. Not after the tepid September finish and no additions to the offense for 2023. What I witnessed in ST (and the lackluster play), had me thinking (and predicting on this site) that this team wouldn’t win 90 and would most likely not make the playoffs. Unfortunately, I was correct.
Now, the pundits are writing the Mets out of the 2024, as far as making the playoffs. I; on the other hand, am more “bullish” and think that the starting pitching will help us get into the playoffs for the upcoming season. It’ll be tough, but they’ll certainly win 85-90 with what they have right now.
I know that people look at Senga as our “ace”, with Quintana, Severino, Houser, Manaea, Lucchesi, Megill, and Butto fighting to be the number “2-5 or 6”; making up a lackluster rotation. Perhaps they are right, but I see a whole lot of professionals looking for redemption. Some will fall, fail, or flop, but half of them will exceed everyone’s (low) expectations.
That’s why I’m looking forward to ST. *
*And I am trusting the coaches and front office assistance to make a difference also.