TORONTO — Sean Manaea’s contract leaves him as a difficult sell before the Aug. 3 trade deadline, but his recent work should at least intrigue teams in need of pitching.
Monday night, the left-hander would have finished with a second six-inning start in his past four if not for Francisco Lindor’s fielding error that prevented Manaea from escaping the frame.
Even so, Manaea departed with a respectable two earned runs allowed over 5 ²/₃ innings in the Mets’ 2-1 loss to the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.
The Mets, who lost for the ninth time in 10 games, were overmatched at the plate by Trey Yesavage and the Blue Jays bullpen.
It was the team’s third loss in four games under interim manager Andy Green.
Manaea, who owns a 4.71 ERA, is only halfway through a three-year contract worth $75 million, and the Mets could choose to keep him as a potential 2027 rotation piece.
But if the Mets were to receive a decent offer for the left-hander — who has pitched to a 3.54 ERA over his past nine appearances — it would behoove them to listen.
More likely, the Mets would be open to dealing Freddy Peralta, a free agent after this season with a higher upside than Manaea.
Another starting pitcher with value, Clay Holmes, is still several weeks away from returning as he rehabs a fractured right fibula.
Manaea, who surrendered three hits and two walks over 90 pitches, didn’t receive enough defensive help.
Juan Soto’s misplay on leadoff hitter George Springer’s line drive in the first gave the Blue Jays a 1-0 lead.
Springer’s shot landed in front of Soto and bounded behind him, rolling to the fence.
A.J. Ewing booted the recovery, allowing Springer to score on what was ruled a triple and Ewing error.
Luis Urias’ leadoff double in the fifth led to the Blue Jays increasing the lead to 2-0 on Myles Straw’s sacrifice fly.
Urias’ double snapped a string of eight batters retired by Manaea, who got rolling after walking Urias to begin the second.
Lindor snapped a streak of 11 straight batters retired by Yesavage with a homer leading off the seventh that pulled the Mets within 2-1.
The blast was Lindor’s third this season and first since returning from the injured list last week.
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Ewing got drilled by a pitch in the inning and was thrown out attempting to steal second, ending the frame.
The Mets tried to rally in the ninth, but Mark Vientos and Ronny Mauricio each struck out with the tying and go-ahead runs on first and second.
