Yardbarker
Yardbarker
x
Mets sign two-year deal with LHP Sean Manaea
Sean Manaea John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports

The Mets and left-hander Sean Manaea are in agreement on a two-year deal worth $28M guaranteed, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post. The deal comes with an opt-out following the 2024 season.

Manaea, 32 in February, was a first-round pick by the Royals back in 2013 and was swapped to the A’s alongside Aaron Brooks in the 2015 deal that brought Ben Zobrist to Kansas City. 

The southpaw made his big league debut in Oakland early in the 2016 season and fashioned a solid rookie year for himself with a 3.86 ERA and 4.08 FIP across 144 2/3 innings of work. Manaea continued to provide mid-to-back end-of-the-rotation consistency for Oakland over the next few seasons, and he owned a career 3.94 ERA (105 ERA+) and 4.15 FIP in 464 innings by the end of the 2018 season. 

Unfortunately, the lefty’s success was interrupted by shoulder surgery late in the 2018 campaign and he missed nearly all of 2019.

Upon his return to action late in the 2019 season, Manaea more or less picked up right where he left off. In 48 starts from 2019-21, the left-hander posted a solid 3.73 ERA (111 ERA+) with a strong 3.64 FIP. During this stretch, Manaea saw his strikeout rate climb considerably. 

Though he entered the 2019 season with a rate of just 19.2% for his career, the lefty struck out 24.8% of batters faced over the next three seasons while walking just 5.2% and generating a 43.8% groundball rate that was a near match for his 44.1% figure in the first three seasons of his career. 

With just one year left before the lefty would hit free agency and the team going nowhere in 2022, the A’s shipped Manaea to San Diego as the Padres in a four-player deal, netting a pair of prospects for the left-hander’s services.

Unfortunately, Manaea began to struggle upon departing Oakland. The lefty’s lone season in San Diego was something of a disaster as he struggled to a 4.96 ERA, 24% worse than league average by ERA+, with a 4.53 FIP. Manaea’s strikeout rate dipped to 23.2%, his walk rate climbed to 7.5%, and he generated grounders at a career-worst 38.2% clip. 

While the southpaw mostly looked like himself in the first half of the season, with a 4.11 ERA and 4.07 FIP in 100 2/3 innings of work (17 starts), that production fell off a cliff down the stretch as he allowed a whopping 6.44 ERA over his final 13 contests. 

Those struggles led Manaea to sign a two-year, $25M deal with the Giants last offseason that gave him the option to return to the free agent market this winter.

At first, Manaea’s time with the Giants saw similarly disastrous results as his final outings with the Padres the previous year. The lefty was booted from the club’s rotation in early May and by mid-June had put together a 5.84 ERA in 49 1/3 frames as opposing batters teed off to the tune of a hefty .474 slugging percentage. 

However, as MLBTR’s Darragh McDonald noted in a recent profile of Manaea, the lefty added a sweeper to his repertoire at the end of May and found massive success with it. Hitters struggled to a .140/.161/.163 slash line against the pitch, swinging and missing at it 35.1% of the times it was thrown.

After adding the sweeper, Manaea quickly found more success with the Giants. He pitched to a solid 3.78 ERA with a fantastic 3.26 FIP in his final 81 frames of the season, and excelled in a late-season return to the rotation with a 2.25 ERA and 3.21 FIP in four September starts. 

After adding the sweeper midseason, Manaea punched out 24.2% of batters faced while walking 6.6% and generating grounders at a 44% clip reminiscent of his days in Oakland. While the majority of that success came in multi-inning relief, the lefty nonetheless flashed the form that made him a successful mid-rotation arm earlier in his career.

The strong late-season results led Manaea to decline his $12.5M player option with the Giants and return to the open market. The decision worked out well for the southpaw, as his $28M pact with the Mets comes with an AAV of $14M and the ability to return to opt out of the deal once again next winter should he choose to do so. 

Manaea slightly outperformed the two-year, $22M prediction MLBTR offered when ranking him 35th on our annual Top 50 MLB free agents list, earning an additional $3M annually over the same term. The deal is mostly in line with the market for back-end starters this offseason, which has seen the likes of Nick Martinez ($26M) and Kenta Maeda ($24M) earn similar guarantees on two-year arrangements.

By adding Manaea, the club adds another veteran arm to a rotation mix that parted ways with both Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander at the trade deadline last summer. The southpaw figures to return to starting full-time in joining the Mets, slotting into the middle of the club’s rotation behind incumbents Kodai Senga and Jose Quintana and ahead of fellow offseason additions Luis Severino and Adrian Houser

The addition of Manaea allows the club to utilize the likes of Tylor Megill, Joey Lucchesi and Jose Butto as depth options at the Triple-A level or in the club’s bullpen. The same figures to go for lefty David Peterson when he returns from offseason hip surgery sometime next summer.

The Mets were already over the highest luxury tax threshold of $297M prior to signing Manaea, That means his full $14M is part of the Mets’ overage coming into 2024. Assuming they remain over the highest tax threshold all season, the club figures to pay $15.8M in taxes on Manaea’s salary next season, meaning the club effectively figures to pay $29.8M for the lefty’s services in 2024. 

Of course, that’s unlikely to be much of a concern for the Mets as the club paid over $100M into the luxury tax this past season. With the club’s rotation mix now likely settled, the Mets figure to continue searching for help at third base, DH and in the bullpen going forward.

This article first appeared on MLB Trade Rumors and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!

TODAY'S BEST

Brian Snitker gives murky response on managing Braves beyond 2025
MLB

Brian Snitker gives murky response on managing Braves beyond 2025

Brian Snitker is entering his 10th full season managing the Atlanta Braves—and possibly his last. Snitker, who turns 70 in October, signed a one-year extension through the 2025 season, but he hasn’t committed to managing beyond this year. When asked recently by USA Today’s Bob Nightengale about his future, the Braves skipper didn’t offer clarity, only reflection. “I still feel really good,” Snitker said. “The 50-number is something I think it’d be kind of cool. But right now, I’m leaning towards getting through today. We’ll play it by ear and see what happens.” Snitker is in his 49th year with the Braves organization. He began as a minor league player in 1977 before shifting to coaching in 1980. Over the decades, he’s managed at nearly every level of Atlanta’s farm system and has held roles on the big league staff including bullpen and third base coach. He took over as interim manager in May 2016 and was named full-time skipper after that season. Will Brian Snitker retire or return to the Braves after the 2025 season? Under his leadership, the Braves have experienced sustained success, winning six consecutive division titles from 2018–2023 and capturing a World Series title in 2021. His 735 managerial wins rank third in franchise history behind Bobby Cox and Frank Selee. Yet despite the accolades, Snitker remains humble and grounded in relationships over results. “I still pinch myself,” he said. “I drive to the ballpark in the summer, and I can’t believe this is my 10th year. This wasn’t even in the stars. I was proud of my career, and not getting to manage in the big leagues was not going to define my career.” General manager Alex Anthopoulos echoed the admiration, praising Snitker’s trustworthiness and steady leadership. “I didn’t know who he was when I got here,” Anthopoulos admitted. “Now, I have the highest level of trust from a personal standpoint, a professional standpoint. He’s authentic and has tremendous integrity.” If Snitker does step away from the dugout, it may not be a full goodbye. He’s hinted at staying involved in an advisory role—visiting minor league parks, attending spring training, and spending time with his grandchildren. “Hopefully, I’ll just stay around here,” he said. “Be one of those advisor guys.” Snitker’s measured approach to retirement mirrors that of Rangers manager Bruce Bochy, who is also in the final year of his contract and undecided on his future. Both managers, born six months apart, are beloved within the game and among their peers. Said Tigers skipper A.J. Hinch: “When you talk about being a lifer in the sport and giving your time and expertise to the same organization—that’s just a remarkable achievement. He is part of the fabric of the Atlanta Braves.” Whether 2025 is truly Snitker’s final ride or just another chapter remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: whenever he steps aside, Atlanta—and baseball—will miss him dearly.

JJ Redick Tears Up About $50 Million Rebuild After L.A. Fires, Wants To Coach Lakers For 15-20 Years
NBA

JJ Redick Tears Up About $50 Million Rebuild After L.A. Fires, Wants To Coach Lakers For 15-20 Years

An emotional JJ Redick spoke to Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times about the recent wildfires and losing his home and community in the Palisades. He noted that he wants to help rebuild the community and is dedicating a lot of his effort to it. Redick added that he was here to stay, wanting to coach the Los Angeles Lakers for the next 15-20 years of his career. "The personal loss is one thing, and that's hard. But it's the loss of an entire community. That's like the hardest part to process. I talked with the mayor about this as well. part of the urgency in getting this going and her agreeing to fast-track everything - there needs to be an optimism and hope." "I mentioned what the rec center represents to the community. I'm hopeful that we can get this done in a timely fashion and have people back. We're in it for the long haul. I would love to be the Lakers' coach for the next 15-20 years. This is important to me." Redick was one of the many people who tragically lost their homes in the L.A. wildfires at the start of the year. He revealed at the onset of the disaster that he would be evacuating his home, but he did maintain that he is still in a privileged position compared to many others and didn't want people to feel sorry for him. Several within the NBA community showed support to him, including Stephen Curry, who gifted his sons two signed jerseys as they lost their collection in the fires. However, there was some genuine concern that the emotional toll of losing their house would be too much for Redick and his family. Jeanie Buss openly talked about worrying that Redick's wife would want him to resign as Lakers coach after the situation. But luckily for her and Lakers fans, Redick wants to stay long-term while simultaneously helping the community that lost so much due to the fires. Redick has been a revelation as the head coach. Despite not having any coaching experience at any level other than his young sons' little-league team, JJ has completely transformed the Lakers into a juggernaut. They are having their best season in the NBA since 2020 and look like legitimate title contenders after a very long time. Of course, Redick has had some things go his way. Rob Pelinka making trades to land Luka Doncic, Dorian Finney-Smith, and several others has significantly improved the quality of this Lakers side. Currently, they sit fourth in the Western Conference with a 45-29 record. They have a genuine chance to surpass the Nuggets and Rockets, who sit ahead of them in the standings, before the season is over. Redick seems to have figured out how to make this roster work. And they should be able to make a very strong run in the playoffs should all the chips fall the right way.

Suns' Kevin Durant goes down with a gruesome-looking ankle injury
NBA

Suns' Kevin Durant goes down with a gruesome-looking ankle injury

Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant left Sunday’s game against the Houston Rockets early after he appeared to severely twist his left ankle. Durant drove to the basket and drew a foul against Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. about five minutes into the second half at Footprint Center in Phoenix. KD accidentally stepped on Smith’s left foot as he made his move into the paint. The 15-time All-Star badly rolled his ankle on the play. He was unable to take the free throws and was instead taken directly to the locker room. Durant left the contest with 11 points and seven rebounds. He also had a technical foul called on him earlier in the game due to an altercation with Rockets swingman Dillon Brooks.

Pistons’ JB Bickerstaff breaks silence on Timberwolves coach’s role in wild brawl
NBA

Pistons’ JB Bickerstaff breaks silence on Timberwolves coach’s role in wild brawl

Emotions reached an intense high during the Detroit Pistons’ 123-104 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The matchup escalated in the second quarter as seven ejections were called after a scuffle broke out between both teams. Timberwolves Naz Reid and Donte DiVincenzo took exception to a reach-in foul by Pistons’ rookie Ron Holland, which turned into a crazy melee of shoving and pushing. Detroit was forced to play the rest of the contest without Holland, Isaiah Stewart, Marcus Sasser, and head coach J.B. Bickerstaff. Bickerstaff got into a verbal altercation with Minnesota assistant coach Pablo Prigoni during the fight. Prigoni, Reid, and DiVincenzo were tossed by the officials for their part in the episode. Bickerstaff opened up about his viewpoint of the situation when asked by the media after the game. “Obviously, we’re frustrated the game didn’t go the way we hoped it would have gone. When you play the way that we play, you earn a reputation. You’re going to be tested, and guys think that’s what they have to do,” Bickerstaff stated, via FanDuel Sports Network. “You regret where it took place. That’s not something you ever want to see happen. I thought our guys stood their ground and defended each other, and had each other’s back. Those are nonnegotiables in our locker room.” Bickerstaff got involved with the tussle when he crossed the half-court line to address Prigoni at Minnesota’s bench. He briefly elaborated on what led to their altercation during the postgame media session. “There were things said by their assistant coach, and I’m in the same boat as my guys are in. We’re going to defend each other. I’m not going to let people say belligerent things about my guys, it’s that simple,” Bickerstaff explained, via Hunter Patterson of the Athletic. “He said what he said, he knows what he said. I didn’t think it crossed the line to escalation of anything, but in that moment I understand the ref’s position. You can’t just say anything to people or about people and expect it to be ok.” The scuffle created a viral moment that will certainly catch the attention of the league front office. Further disciplinary action like suspensions could be announced by the NBA soon this week in response. Pistons injuries remain a mystery The Pistons approached Sunday’s game against the Timberwolves already shorthanded due to injuries. Point guard Cade Cunningham missed his fourth straight game nursing a left calf contusion. This was the first loss the Pistons suffered in the absence of their franchise player. His status was upgraded to doubtful before tipoff on the injury report. The Pistons have not yet provided a timetable for his return as the end of the regular season looms. Forward Tobias Harris seemed likely to return against Minnesota as he was reported as probable before the game started. The veteran wing was a late scratch just before tipoff to continue resting his Achilles tendinopathy. The ejections created a bigger depth problem for the Pistons. Detroit led by as many as 16 points in the first half prior to the brawl. They managed to keep the score at a manageable range until Minnesota poured on in the fourth quarter. All five Pistons’ starters finished the night scoring in double figures. Shooting guard Malik Beasley led all scorers with 27 points while filling in as a starter. Guard Tim Hardaway Jr. chipped in 20 points in 30 minutes. Forward Ausar Thompson battled through foul trouble and scored 14 points. Jalen Duren (13 points, 11 rebounds) and Dennis Schroder (11 points, 11 assists) were impactful for the Pistons recording double doubles.