PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Starting pitcher Sean Manaea for the New York Mets is anticipated to start the season on the injured list due to a right oblique strain. Manaea mentioned on Monday that he has been managing this discomfort since the onset of spring training.
“It didn’t really get worse, it just kind of plateaued,” Manaea explained. “The frustrating part is that it hasn’t improved much over the last couple of weeks.” As the team’s leading starter from the previous season, Manaea signed a lucrative three-year contract worth $75 million. He has been actively throwing and pitching but indicated that his recovery process has not been optimal. Over the weekend, he underwent an MRI to assess the situation.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza confirmed that Manaea would not be throwing again until he shows no symptoms, which might take about two to three weeks. “The good news is that the tendon and rib cage are not affected; it’s strictly a muscle issue,” Mendoza noted. “He’s going to be sidelined for a couple of weeks, and then we can reevaluate. It’s safe to say he will likely start the season on the injured list.”
Additionally, Mendoza informed media that infielder Nick Madrigal suffered a fracture in his left shoulder during a spring training game. The 27-year-old Madrigal, who is competing for a spot on the roster, was playing shortstop when he fielded a ground ball and fell after making a throw to first base. An MRI revealed the severity of the injury, and he was undergoing further evaluations on Monday.
With Manaea’s injury, the Mets now find themselves without two anticipated starters, as Frankie Montas is also out due to a strained back. Montas, who signed a two-year, $34 million deal in December, has been sidelined for six to eight weeks. His return is not expected before May.
If Manaea can recover properly, there is a chance he could return in April. This leaves the Mets with a potential starting rotation that includes Kodai Senga, David Peterson, former All-Star closer Clay Holmes, Paul Blackburn, and Griffin Canning.
Mantaining his position on the team, Manaea recorded a 12-6 record with a 3.47 ERA across 32 starts during his debut season with the Mets last year. His new contract followed his decision to decline his player option for 2025, effectively forgoing the last $13.5 million of a previous two-year, $28 million agreement. At 33 years old, Manaea was a free agent for the third time and did not accept a qualifying offer of $21.05 million from the team.
Last season, he completed a career-high 181 2/3 innings while striking out 184 batters and issuing 63 walks. Mid-season, Manaea adjusted his arm slot in an effort to mimic the mechanics of the talented left-hander, Chris Sale, of the Atlanta Braves, which helped establish him as the Mets’ most competent starter towards the end of the season, showing a 6-2 record along with a 3.09 ERA over his last 12 regular-season games. In the postseason, he further showcased his skills with a 2-1 record and a 4.74 ERA, accumulating 19 strikeouts in four starts that totaled 19 innings as the Mets made an unexpected playoff run to the National League Championship Series.
Manaea has a well-established MLB career, accumulating a record of 77-62 with a 4.00 ERA in 198 starts along with 30 relief appearances for teams including Oakland (2016-21), San Diego (2022), San Francisco (2023), and the Mets. Notably, he pitched a no-hitter for the Athletics against the Boston Red Sox in April 2018.
