Oakland Athletics: Sean Manaea out until 2020
By Jason Evans
While the Oakland Athletics are fighting for a Wild Card birth this year, their 2019 hopes took a major hit with Sean Manaea out until 2020
The Oakland Athletics have been baseball’s feel good story this year, coming out of nowhere to contend. A moneyball like run, fueled by a heck of an offense and solid contributions from unlikely contributors in their rotation. Their ace in that rotation had been Sean Manaea all year long. Unfortunately for Oakland, they won’t have Manaea back this year. Or next year.
Sean Manaea is expected to be sidelined through 2019, Melvin says.
— Jane Lee (@JaneMLB) September 11, 2018
Manaea had arthroscopic shoulder surgery earlier this week and will now be sidelined for quite a while.
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The 26-year old lefty was 12-6 with a 3.59 ERA in 27 starts this year. Guys like Edwin Jackson, Trevor Cahill and Brett Anderson will hit the free agent market after the season. Other pitchers like Jharel Cotton, A.J. Puk, Kendell Graveman and Daniel Gossett all had Tommy John surgery at some point this season.
It wouldn’t shock me if next year, you see them go to a similar strategy that the Tampa Bay Rays have used this year by using an opener at times next year and bullpening some games. Even with Jeurys Familia set to be a free agent, they have plenty of depth to do this kind of strategy. Maybe top pitching prospect Jesus Lazardo is ready to go at some point next season.
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This loss of Sean Manaea is going to impact the Oakland Athletics for the next few seasons. They will still continue to chug along to a postseason birth without him. As Brad Pitt said in the movie “Moneyball”, “Adapt or Die.” That’s what the real life Billy Beane, Bob Melvin and the Oakland Atheltics have to do not only the rest of 2018 in their starting rotation, but this off-season as well.