Uncertain Future for Sean Manaea Amid Mets’ Struggles

TORONTO — Sean Manaea’s contract complicates any potential trades before the August 3 deadline, though his recent performances might still attract interest from teams searching for pitching help.

If not for some fielding errors from Francisco Lindor, Manaea could have made a sixth-inning appearance for the second time in four games during the Mets’ matchup against the Blue Jays on Monday night.

Even so, Manaea left the game allowing just 2 earned runs in 5 2/3 innings, which isn’t too shabby in the context of a struggling team. The Mets, who fell to their ninth loss in the last ten games, were largely stifled by Trey Yesavage and the Blue Jays’ bullpen.

This marked the team’s third loss in four games under interim coach Andy Green.

With a 4.71 ERA, Manaea is currently in the middle of a three-year, $75 million contract, potentially making him an option for the Mets’ rotation through 2027, provided they choose to keep him.

However, if an appealing offer comes in for the left-handed pitcher, who has managed to achieve a 3.54 ERA over his last nine appearances, the Mets would likely have to consider it.

Possibly, the Mets might also think about trading Freddy Peralta—who will be a free agent after this season—if they feel a deal could offer more value than retaining Manaea.

Meanwhile, Clay Holmes, another valuable starter, remains a few weeks away from returning from a fractured right fibula.

Manaea threw 90 pitches during the game, yielding three hits and two walks, but he didn’t receive sufficient defensive support.

In the first inning, Juan Soto mishandled George Springer’s line drive, which let the Blue Jays take an early lead. The ball struck Soto in the face, ricocheted off his back, and rolled into the fence, leading to Springer’s scoring on a triple.

In the fifth inning, the Blue Jays increased their lead to 2-0 following a double from Luis Urias and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Myles Straw. Urias’s double came after Manaea allowed a walk, setting the stage for a frustrating inning.

Lindor broke up Yesavage’s impressive streak in the seventh with a home run, bringing the score to 2-1, which marked Lindor’s third homer of the season and his first since his return from the disabled list.

In a brief attempt to rally during the ninth inning, the Mets saw Mark Vientos and Ronnie Mauricio both face strikeouts, leaving them unable to tie or take the lead.