The New York Mets’ starting rotation faced another setback on Monday when left-hander Sean Manaea was diagnosed with a strained right oblique. He is expected to be sidelined for approximately two weeks and may start the regular season on the injured list. Manager Carlos Mendoza mentioned, “It could take 7, 14, 21 days to heal,” regarding Manaea’s injury. “Once he’s symptom-free, he’ll resume his throwing routine.”
Based on Baseball Prospectus data, pitchers with oblique strains typically miss an average of 48 days. Manaea, 33, re-signed with the Mets this offseason on a three-year, $75 million contract. In the 2024 season, he recorded a 3.47 ERA (114 ERA+) and a 3.83 FIP in 32 starts and 181 ⅔ innings. Throughout his career, he has maintained an ERA+ of 102 over nine big-league seasons.
Manaea’s injury follows shortly after fellow Mets starter Frankie Montas was diagnosed with a lat strain. Montas may be out for up to two months, adding strain to the team’s starting rotation. Despite having some depth in the rotation, the Mets are already facing challenges, including uncertainties surrounding Clay Holmes’ transition from reliever to starter and Kodai Senga’s durability concerns.
Considering the Mets’ high aspirations for the 2025 season – highlighted by the acquisition of Juan Soto and the re-signing of Pete Alonso – they may explore the trade market to address the recent rotation setbacks. Following Montas’ injury news, The Athletic reported that the Mets were initially hesitant to seek external pitching options, but the latest update on Manaea’s injury could prompt a change in strategy.
While the Mets possess rotation depth and were considering a six-man rotation before Montas’ injury, there is still a competition for the fifth spot. The team has mid- to back-end solutions in place, indicating that they may not pursue mid-tier free agent starters like Kyle Gibson, Lance Lynn, Spencer Turnbull, or Jose Quintana.
In terms of potential replacements for Manaea, the trade market offers limited options. Padres ace Dylan Cease stands out as a top choice, especially since the Padres are looking to reduce costs and may consider moving Cease and his $13.25 million salary. Cease, 29, had an impressive 2024 season with 224 strikeouts in 189 ⅓ innings, a 3.10 FIP, and a fourth-place finish in the NL Cy Young voting.
Another viable option from the Padres could be Michael King, who excelled in his first full season as a starter after being acquired in the Juan Soto trade. King, like Cease, is set to become a free agent after the upcoming season and could provide stability to the Mets’ rotation.
For a more cost-effective solution, the Mets may consider Cardinals right-hander Erick Fedde, who rejuvenated his career in Korea before returning to the MLB. Fedde, 32, delivered solid performances in 2023 and 2024 with a 126 ERA+ and a 3.86 FIP. With a salary of just $7.5 million for the upcoming season, Fedde could be a valuable addition to the Mets’ pitching staff.
While it remains uncertain whether the Mets will make further moves in response to Manaea’s injury, any additions to the rotation should target frontline starters rather than depth options. This could involve exploring trades for players like Cease, King, or Fedde, with a preference for the Padres’ established arms.
following sentence:
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
Rewritten sentence:
The fast brown fox leaps over the sluggish dog.