Another lefty for the Cubs rotation?

Sean Manaea was selected in the first round (34th overall) in 2013 out of Indiana State by the Royals.

He never played in a game for KC, though. Two years later he was traded to the A’s for… Ben Zobrist. Cubs connection!

Manaea went to high school in northwest Indiana (Merrillville). Chicago connection!

If you think this is going to be an article highly recommending Manaea for a spot in the Cubs rotation, I’m not going to do that.

But let’s have a look anyway.

Manaea threw pretty well in his first few years with the A’s, then had some injury issues (mostly shoulder) that forced him to miss most of the 2019 season. He came back and had another decent year in Oakland in 2021 (3.2 bWAR), then drifted through the Padres and Giants for a couple of years before winding up in the Mets rotation in 2024.

Where, to be sure, he had yet another quality year — 3.47 ERA, 1.084 WHIP, good peripherals and 3.0 bWAR.

I’ve almost talked myself into this now, but… I still don’t think Manaea would be that good a fit. He’ll turn 33 in February. MLB Trade Rumors has him getting a three-year, $60 million deal. One of their writers putting together their Top 50 free agents list has him coming to the Cubs.

I’m just not seeing it. I think there’s a strong chance for regression from Manaea over the next few seasons, so I say, “Pass.”

What say you?