The New York Mets’ pitching staff just took another big hit. Sean Manaea is headed to the injured list with a strained right oblique, just days after the team lost Frankie Montas to a lat strain.
Manager Carlos Mendoza isn’t sure exactly how long Manaea will be out. “It could take 7, 14, 21 days to heal,” he said. “Once he’s symptom free he’ll start his throwing again.”
But history suggests it could be much longer. Pitchers typically miss about 48 days with oblique strains.
This is tough news for the Mets, who just signed Manaea to a hefty three-year, $75 million deal this winter. The 33-year-old lefty was solid for them last year, posting a 3.47 ERA in 32 starts.
The timing couldn’t be worse. Montas might be out for two months, and there are already question marks about Clay Holmes’ move from the bullpen to the rotation and Kodai Senga’s durability.
The Mets have some backup options, but these injuries might force them to look for help elsewhere. They’re clearly going all-in this year after landing superstar Juan Soto and bringing back Pete Alonso.
While the team initially said they wouldn’t chase another starter after Montas went down, losing Manaea too might change their plans.
There are some interesting trade possibilities out there. The biggest name? Padres ace Dylan Cease. He’s been incredible lately, with over 200 strikeouts in each of the last four seasons. The 29-year-old finished fourth in Cy Young voting last year after striking out 224 batters in 189â…“ innings.
Other options include Michael King from the Padres, who had a breakout year as a starter in 2024, or Cardinals pitcher Erick Fedde, who’s been impressive since returning from Korea.
The Mets still have enough arms to field a rotation, but if they want to compete in 2025, they might need to make a move. And with the talent they’ve already assembled, going after someone like Cease might make the most sense.
