Sean Manaea is struggling this spring with two weeks left of camp
Plus, the Mets will celebrate Carlos Beltran's hall of fame induction by retiring his number in 2026
What’s Up with the Mets? 🌴
The Mets lost to the Cardinals 3-1 on Thursday (box)
LHP Sean Manaea got the start and gave up three runs in 2.2 innings. He struck out four and walked one
RHP Tobias Myers was almost perfect in his outing - his final line was 3.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, and 2 K
RHP Craig Kimbrel and RHP Luke Weaver did not allow any runs in their relief appearances
1B Jorge Polanco went 1-for-3 with a home run, and CF Luis Robert Jr. also went 1-for-3 in his spring debut
RHP Clay Holmes is returning to Port St. Lucie after playing on Team USA in the WBC to prepare for the start of the regular season
The Mets plan to retire Carlos Beltran’s no. 15 during the 2026 season (NY Post)
Injury Updates 🏥
SS Francisco Lindor (recovery from hand surgery) will soon begin hitting in minor league games - he remains on track for Opening Day
Thursday, March 12:
All teams were off with the quarterfinals starting March 13.
Schedule | Standings | Scores
What I’m Reading 📰
Sean Manaea’s velocity on his fastball is down but he is not concerned about it just yet (MLB.com)
The Mets are taking it slow with Luis Robert Jr. in an effort to keep him healthy (MLB.com)
Just Mets Podcast 🎙️
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Today’s Games 🏝️
Split Squad, Game 1
Match-up: Mets SS (9-6) at Nationals (11-4)
Where: CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches- West Palm Beach, FL
Starters: TBD vs. RHP Zack Littell (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
When: 6:05 PM EDT
Where to Watch: N/A
Split Squad, Game 2
Match-up: Mets SS (9-6) vs Marlins (6-10)
Where: Clover Park- Port St. Lucie, FL
Starters: RHP Chris Paddack (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. TBD
When: 6:10 PM EDT
Where to Watch: WPIX
Do the Mets have a Sean Manaea problem on their hands? ✍️
Sean Manaea made his second start of spring on Thursday afternoon in Jupiter, and it could have gone just a tad better. He was unable to finish three innings while giving three runs over 2.2 IP - his spring ERA now sits at 6.35.
After two spring starts, ERA is of little importance, but what is concerning is that for the second straight start, his velocity has been noticeably down. His average fastball velocity against the Cardinals was 88.8 mph, which was up from 88.4 mph in his first outing of spring. Both he and manager Carlos Mendoza were unconcerned about that after the game, but the slight buzzing of alarm bells is starting to go off about Manaea and where he is following a 2025 season marred by an oblique injury as well as an elbow injury that kept him out until basically the All-Star Game, and a generally poor performance upon returning.
For comparative purposes, Manaea’s average fastball velocity last year, according to StatCast, was 91.7 mph, which is a 1/2 mile below what it was in 2024, when he emerged as the ace of this staff and earned himself a three-year contract the following off-season.
Granted, there is still a little time left this spring, and the velocity could return, but there is still the issue of loose bodies in the elbow which went unaddressed in the off-season. He insists this is a non-issue at this point, but the velocity is what it is right now and he simply doesn’t look right out there at the moment.
That’s just being fair, whether the player and the club are concerned or not.
Hopefully, this is just a case of him needing more ramp-up time. To this point, every other projected starter has stayed healthy, so if Manaea needs some extended Spring Training, the Mets can afford to go with five starters at least temporarily given how the schedule plays out through April 11, especially if they decide to go with a six-man rotation (with Manaea included in that). They could conceivably roll with five through that date, as they won’t need a sixth starter until April 12 with the scheduled off-days on March 27 and April 6.
Of course, if the velocity does not return, and Manaea keeps getting batted around into the season, the Mets will have quite a problem on their hands.
There are alternatives of course, but I’m sure the Mets would rather not resort to to them early on in the year.
Again, the team is already looking at a crowded rotation with Manaea, Freddy Peralta, Nolan McLean, Clay Holmes, David Peterson, and Kodai Senga, all capable starters on paper. There is also Christian Scott and Jonah Tong waiting in the wings, but the true wild card might be Tobias Myers. In the current scenario, he would mostly likely break camp in the bullpen, but the Mets view him as a swing guy and someone who is capable of pitching as both a starter and a reliever. He was mostly a full-time starter during his rookie year in 2024, and made an eye-opening start agains the Mets in Game 3 of the 2024 Wild Card series, where he shut them out for five innings. He has looked great so far this spring, so he’s unquestionably in play as an alternative to anyone who struggles or gets hurt, Manaea included.
As for Tong, the Mets just optioned him to the minors, which wasn’t unexpected but clearly a sign the Mets want him to develop outside of the spotlight and the pressure cooker of the big leagues. He clearly needed more seasoning upon being promoted (out of desperation) last September, and while he has progressed and is working on developing a cutter, he can only stand to benefit from a few good months at Triple-A.
Then of course there is Scott, who is a year and a half removed from Tommy John Surgery. He has looked encouragingly impressive this spring, but he will probably be optioned to Triple-A soon as he also needs some more development time and some competitive innings away from New York. As is the case with Tong, the quantity at the big league level affords him that time and opportunity to get his feet under him elsewhere.
That doesn’t mean the Mets won’t call upon Tong or Scott early on if needed.
Between those two and Myers, the Mets should be able to withstand losing Manaea or underperformance from Manaea for any amount of time. Hopefully, it won’t come to that - the best version of the Mets undoubtedly includes a healthy Manaea being at least a mid-rotation starter for them.
Around the League 🚩
The Red Sox signed LHP Danny Coulombe to a one-year deal (ESPN)
The Yankees reassigned top prospect George Lombard Jr. to minor league camp (MLB.com)
Team USA substituted three relievers to the roster ahead of the quarterfinals (MLB.com)
RHP José Berríos was scratched from his start against the Phillies when a MRI revealed elbow inflammation (Sports Illustrated)
At this point, it wouldn't surprise me if he stayed behind in Port St Lucie for extended Spring Training when the team breaks camp. The good news is, that would solve the question of fitting six starting pitchers into five slots in the rotation, for the time being. The better news is the Mets have rotational depth in Syracuse, with Jonah Tong and Christian Scott waiting in the wings.
Manaea is disposable. We saw last year that "you can't have too much pitching."
Still, if you can get anything for him (including with someone else), he's obviously disposable.
He did his job when he first came, was disappointing last season, and if he gives you anything this year, it's gravy. Of course, he might "click in" and be decent or more. These guys are variable.