Padres trade for Sean Manaea in a surprising move

The San Diego Padres added LHP Sean Manaea to the roster in a trade with the Oakland Athletics, providing more depth to the rotation.

On Sunday, the San Diego Padres added a weapon to their pitching staff, trading for Sean Manaea and a prospect in a deal that sent two San Diego prospects to the Oakland Athletics.

Manaea, 30, is a left-handed starter who has been solid in his career, with moments of dominance. The 2021 season was certainly his best year, as he struck out 194 batters while only allowing 41 walks. He also recorded two complete-game shutouts in 2021, something the Padres could desperately use following a year that demanded a lot from the bullpen.

In return for Manaea, the A’s received infielder Euribiel Angeles and Adrian Martinez. Angeles is a top-ten prospect in the Padres’ system who hit .329 in Single-A ball in 2021. Martinez is 25 and showed signs of improvement in the Padres’ system in 2021 but was expendable when Manaea became available to San Diego.

Manaea is in the last year of his current contract and is owed $9.75 million for the 2022 season. With a new deal looming next season, it will be interesting to see if he can follow up a strong 2021 season with another one before hitting the open market.

The tall lefty stands mostly straight during his wind-up and then drops down into a three-quarter angle when delivering the ball. The motion seems to benefit his ability to hide his pitches. There is a bit of funk to his pitching motion.

Manaea mainly throws three pitches: a fastball in the low to mid-90s, a changeup with movement, and a tight-breaking slider. Manaea’s fastball command was key last season, producing a big number of strikeouts on well-placed heat.

The move is even more important for the Padres now that word has spread that starter Mike Clevinger will miss the start of the season due to knee issues. Coming back from Tommy John surgery, Clevinger continues to battle injuries that have plagued him since joining San Diego.

With several options at starting pitcher, Sean Manaea adds depth to the Padres. This move not only gives them a solid arm to add to their puzzle but allowing them the flexibility to make a deal involving another starter to possibly receive help elsewhere.

The Padres added a solid left-handed arm in a contract season that is coming off his best season yet. The acquisition of Manaea should be welcomed by Padres fans.

Kevin Modafferi

Kevin is a San Diego Native covering the San Diego Padres and their affiliates