New York Mets left-hander Sean Manaea (oblique) has resumed throwing after a two-week layoff following a recent MRI exam, according to manager Carlos Mendoza. Manaea will still need a full spring training buildup, though, after suffering a right-oblique strain in camp. It means that fantasy managers shouldn't expect the 33-year-old veteran to make his 2025 debut until late May or early June. When healthy, he's expected to be locked into a rotation spot in New York after a career resurgence in 2024 after dropping his arm slot. The former first-rounder of the Kansas City Royals back in 2013 out of Indiana State University went 12-6 last year in his first year with the Mets, posting a 3.47 ERA (3.83 FIP) and 1.08 WHIP with 184 K's and 63 walks in 32 regular-season starts. Manaea was able to play catch from 60 feet on Monday.
New York Mets left-hander Sean Manaea (oblique) said that he's feeling good after receiving a platelet-rich plasma injection in his strained right oblique on Tuesday. Manaea still has a ways to go, but the fact that he's feeling better is certainly good news. Still, the 33-year-old needs to be fully built up again after dealing with his oblique injury for most of spring training. It means that fantasy managers won't be able to rely on the veteran southpaw until May, at the earliest. It's also probably fooling to expect the former first-rounder to be as good as he was in his first year with the Mets in 2024 when he went 12-6 with a 3.47 ERA (3.83 ERA) and 1.08 WHIP with 184 strikeouts and 63 walks in 32 innings covering a career-high 181 2/3 innings pitched in the regular season. A lower arm slot led to his sinker being more effective late in the season, but can he maintain that good form after this injury?
New York Mets starting pitcher Sean Manaea (oblique) is still having trouble with his oblique and received a platelet-rich plasma shot. He will be shut down for two weeks. As a result, Manaea will now be sidelined till at least the end of May. The southpaw has been dealing with this oblique injury since spring training. The 33-year-old began a throwing program and was targeting a return in late April. However, he has faced a setback and will now face a longer recovery process. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status as he could face an extended absence. Last season, Manaea held a solid 3.47 ERA with a 1.08 WHIP across his first campaign in Queens. After the All-Star break, the 33-year-old was quite productive, boasting a 0.94 WHIP across 85 1/3 innings of work. While Manaea remains sidelined, Griffin Canning should continue to see opportunities in the starting rotation.
New York Mets left-hander Sean Manaea (oblique) resumed throwing two days ago, according to manager Carlos Mendoza. Manaea's follow-up MRI exam came back clean, so he's essentially re-starting his spring training program after being shut down with a strained right oblique earlier in camp. It means that the 33-year-old veteran southpaw is right on schedule. He still has a ways to go as he builds his arm up for a starter's workload, but barring a setback, he could be ready to rejoin the Mets' rotation at some point in April. Nobody really expected much from Manaea in Queens in 2024, but he pitched very well thanks to a lowered arm slot and threw more strikes, too, finishing 12-6 with a 3.47 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 184:63 K:BB in 181 2/3 regular-season innings over 32 starts. It remains to be seen if he can repeat that success in 2025, but he's at least a little cheaper now that he'll begin the year on the injured list.
Sean Manaea Likely To Miss Opening Day With Oblique Strain
New York Mets left-hander Sean Manaea (oblique) has been diagnosed with a right-oblique strain and will most likely miss Opening Day at the end of March, according to MLB.com's Anthony DiComo. Manaea will be shut down for a couple of weeks at spring training before restarting his spring progression. If everything goes well once he resumes throwing, Manaea could make his 2025 debut by mid- or late April. It's an early blow to the Mets' starting pitching, as the veteran left-hander was the team's top pitcher in 2024, going 12-6 with a 3.47 ERA over 32 starts. The 33-year-old signed a three-year, $75 million contract in the offseason to return to the Mets. With both Manaea and Frankie Montas (lat) injured, it increases the likelihood of Griffin Canning, Tylor Megill and Paul Blackburn (back) all making the Opening Day rotation.
Starting pitcher Sean Manaea signed a three-year contract worth $75 million to return to the New York Mets. Manaea spent the entirety of the 2024 campaign in Queens. Across 181 2/3 innings, the left-handed pitcher held a 3.47 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP. During the second-half of the summer, he held a stellar 0.94 WHIP. Under the hood, he generated a 3.75 xERA and .227 xBA which were both slightly above the average marks of qualified hitters. He also generated strikeouts at a solid 24.9% rate and allowed hard contact at a 37.8% hard-hit rate. However, he did hold a high 8.5% walk rate which placed him in the 41st percentile. Fantasy managers should expect Manaea to operate towards the front half of the Mets starting rotation during the 2025 campaign. The 32-year-old should be viewed as a high-floor investment for fantasy purposes as he should provide a reliable innings count with a solid ERA and a strong WHIP.
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, before signing Luis Severino, the Athletics made a "big offer" to free-agent starting pitcher Sean Manaea in hopes of bringing him back to his first MLB club. However, given the Athletics agreed on a hefty $67 million contract with Severino, Manaea will likely not return to his first home in 2025. This suggests that Manaea could be in store for a sizeable contract during free agency after posting a strong 3.47 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP in Queens. During the second half of the season, Manaea held a stellar 0.94 WHIP. Under the hood, he boasted an above-average .277 xBA and 24.9% strikeout rate. Manaea is worth monitoring in free agency, as he should be a viable third or fourth starter during the 2025 campaign.
Free-agent left-hander Sean Manaea is expected to reject the New York Mets' $21.05 million qualifying offer. If Manaea ends up signing elsewhere on the open market this winter, the Mets will receive draft-pick compensation. The 32-year-old veteran southpaw is looking for a more lucrative long-term deal this offseason after having a career resurgence in 2024 with the Mets. In his 32 starts, he went 12-6 with a 3.47 ERA (3.83 FIP), a 1.08 WHIP and a 184:63 K:BB in 181 2/3 innings pitched. He wasn't quite as effective in his four postseason starts in October, allowing 11 runs (10 earned) on 17 hits (three homers) while walking eight and striking out 19 in 19 innings. The key to Manaea's solid year was his ability to unlock more velocity due to mechanical tweaks. It remains to be seen if he'll be able to build on it in 2025. Fantasy managers will likely be skeptical, depending on where he lands in free agency.
The New York Mets extended a one-year, $21.05 million qualifying offer to free-agent left-hander Sean Manaea on Monday. If Manaea rejects the offer and signs with another team on the open market this offseason, the Mets will receive draft-pick compensation. New York's starting rotation could look quite different next year, with Luis Severino also being a free agent. The 32-year-old Manaea had one of his better seasons in his first year with the Mets in 2024, going 12-6 with a 3.47 ERA (3.83 FIP), 1.08 WHIP and a 184:63 K:BB over 181 2/3 innings and 32 starts. Tweaked mechanics helped Manaea post a career-high-tying 25.7% strikeout rate in 2023 with the San Francisco Giants, and he wasn't far behind at 24.9% in 2024, although it came with a career-high 8.5% walk rate. The veteran southpaw's fantasy value will be the highest if he stays in the Big Apple.
Sean Manaea Opts Out Of Contract, Becomes Free Agent
New York Mets starting pitcher Sean Manaea opted out of his contract with the Mets on Saturday and is now a free agent. Manaea had one year and $13.5 million remaining on his contract and is clearly eyeing a bigger payday after a resurgent second half of the season fueled by tweaks to his mechanics. The lefty posted a 3.47 ERA in 2024, his best ERA in a season with 10 or more games started. The lefty will certainly be in demand on the free agent market after his second half success transferred to the postseason. Fantasy managers should expect similar results in 2025 with slight negative regression coming as his 3.47 ERA was buoyed by a 3.75 xERA.
Sean Manaea
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Mets
