Sean Manaea to opt out of Giants contract, become MLB free agent – NBC Sports Bay Area & California

The Giants gain clarity on the future of one of their veteran starting pitchers on Sunday.

Left-handed pitcher Sean Manaea informs Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle that he will be opting out of his two-year, $25 million contract with the Giants, making him a free agent.

Manaea was expected to have a significant impact on the Giants’ rotation last season. However, he struggled early on and was moved to the bullpen as a long-reliever. He pitched better in the middle of the season and eventually regained his starting role with a strong finish to the campaign.

The 31-year-old ended the season with a 4.44 ERA in 117 2/3 innings pitched, recording 128 strikeouts and an impressive 3.90 FIP.

In the first half of the season, Manaea had a 5.49 ERA, but in the second half, he improved with a 3.43 ERA. In the final month, his ERA dropped to 2.67, which likely influenced his decision to opt out.

Giants president of baseball operations, Farhan Zaidi, has expressed the team’s intention to pursue top-of-the-rotation starting pitching during the offseason. While a reunion with Manaea seems unlikely, it cannot be completely ruled out.

If the Giants held onto Manaea, they would have owed him $15 million in 2024. However, with the underwhelming free-agent market for starting pitchers, Manaea has positioned himself to potentially secure a larger contract elsewhere.

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