Sean Manaea has been a reliable major league pitcher for a long time.
The 2025 season wasn’t a great reflection of that for the New York Mets‘ left-hander. But he’ll get a chance to do it better in 2026.
Manaea is what MLB.com’s Brent Maguire has called the X-factor for the Mets in the season ahead.
“Between Freddy Peralta and Nolan McLean, the Mets have a formidable 1-2 punch,” Maguire writes. “While there are multiple intriguing options beyond those two, they’ll need a third starter to step up as a legitimate No. 3 starter. In 2024, Manaea certainly was that kind of pitcher, posting career-best figures in ERA (3.47), xERA (3.75) and innings (181 2/3). The veteran left-hander struggled last season with a 5.64 ERA in 60 2/3 innings and didn’t debut until July 13 due to multiple injuries.”
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Maybe Manaea needs to bring back his long hair. We’re kidding. Sort of.
In reality, he just needs to stay healthy. A consistent workload can go a long way for a pitcher, as opposed to a bumpy, injury-plagued season like the one Manaea just had.
“The good news is Manaea has been a durable starter throughout his career and under the hood, his numbers weren’t quite that bad last year,” Maguire writes. “The lefty had a career-best 28.5 percent strikeout rate and only walked 4.6 percent of opposing hitters, with an inflated home run rate (1.93 HR/9) being his main issue. If Manaea is closer to his 2024 version, the Mets’ rotation is going to look awfully good.”
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Manaea and David Peterson can provide a pair of left-handers in the rotation to go with the star right-handers like Peralta, McLean and maybe Jonah Tong.
If it all comes together and guys stay healthy (a big if with modern pitching), it could be quite formidable.
The Mets collapsed down the stretch last season because they didn’t have enough pitching.
Manaea could be the guy that ensures that these Mets have more than enough pitching.
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