Sean Manaea to Sign with Mets: What to Make of Move

The Mets have already two notable rotation pieces this winter and now a third is set to join the Amazins’ in 2024. Veteran left-hander Sean Manaea will reportedly join the Mets on a two-year deal after what could be considered a successful 2023 with the Giants. Here’s a closer look at Manaea.

A Look at Manaea

One year after Sean Manaea recorded a career-high 4.96 ERA with the Padres, the left-hander found more success with the Giants this past season. The Giants mainly used Manaea as a piggybacker thanks in large part to struggles in the early part of the year.

But, he recorded a lower ERA (4.44) and HR/9 (1.1) in San Francisco than with the Padres and struck out 128 batters over 117.2 IP. The ERA figure can be considered high. However, a 3.90 FIP and .708 opposing OPS — his lowest since 2018 — were strong indicators from Manaea’s 2023 campaign.

With the A’s, Manaea relied heavily on his two-seamer, as he threw the pitch anywhere from 50-60% of the time between 2019-21. But with San Diego and San Francisco, Manaea reversed course and practically ditched the sinker in favor of the four-seamer.

While Manaea doesn’t have premium velocity — he sits in the 92-95 MPH range — the move has allowed the lefty to make use of his delivery and plus extension to get more misses up in the zone.

Sean Manaea whiff 2023 — Manaea’s fastball proved to be a formidable weapon for him in 2023. Hence, why he was able to get so many whiffs up in the zone.

But one of the more interesting developments from Manaea’s 2023 campaign was the introduction of the sweeper to his arsenal. Manaea barely used it over the first two months of last season but leaned on it more as the year went on.

He was able to get whiffs on it both up and down and out of the zone. Additionally, Manaea still has his changeup which could still be considered his best secondary offering.

Per multiple reports, the Mets added Sean Manaea on a two-year deal worth $28MM.

Analysis

The 2023-24 offseason has been different for the Mets — or at least compared to the past three under owner Steve Cohen. New York added Francisco Lindor, Max Scherzer, Starling Marte, and Justin Verlander over the 2020-22 offseasons but a subpar 2023 campaign has led the Mets to take a different course.

That doesn’t mean the Mets haven’t been busy. Manaea marks the third notable addition to the Mets rotation for 2024, as Luis Severino and Adrian Houser were both picked up earlier in the winter. Those three, along with Kodai Senga and a plethora of other options that include Jose Butto and Joey Lucchesi, should give the Mets some depth for next season.

Manaea is not a high-end starter but the lefty has a good body of work and the stuff to be a middle-of-the-rotation arm, should the Mets use him as one.