Sean Manaea

Manaea to opt out of Giants contract, become MLB free agent

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NBC Universal, Inc. “Giants Talk” hosts Laura Britt and Cole Kuiper chat with Giants broadcaster Duane Kuiper and get his thoughts on the contract extension of President of Baseball Operations for the San Francisco Giants, Farhan Zaidi

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

Left-handed pitcher Sean Manaea told the San Francisco Chronicle's Susan Slusser that he will opt out of the remainder of the two-year, $25 million contract he signed with San Francisco last offseason and will become a free agent.

Manaea was expected to play a big role in the Giants' rotation last season, but struggled early on and was moved to the bullpen as a long reliever. He pitched better toward the middle part of the season and eventually reclaimed a starting role with a strong finish to the campaign.

The 31-year-old finished the season with a 4.44 ERA in 117 2/3 innings pitched with 128 strikeouts and a respectable 3.90 FIP.

Manaea had a 5.49 ERA in the first half of the season and a 3.43 ERA in the second half, including a 2.67 ERA in the final month, which likely influenced his decision to opt out.

Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi has said the organization will target top-of-the-rotation starting pitching this offseason, which makes a reunion with Manaea unlikely but certainly shouldn't be ruled out.

The Giants would have owed Manaea $15 million in 2024 and in an underwhelming free-agent starting pitching market, the veteran has positioned himself to potentially land a larger contract elsewhere.

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