The Mt. Diablo Devils have been hard at work on building out their starting rotation and GM Jason Watson started to lay the groundwork on Monday with their acquisition of left-hander Sean Manaea (2FA/$5) from the Alamo Short Stacks. In return, the Stacks will acquire a 2021 4th Round selection (54th Overall).
While his overall 2020 numbers weren't stellar, the southpaw finished 2020 on a tear going 4-1 with a 2.77 ERA over his final seven regular-season starts and is looking to carry that momentum into this season. What he lacks in strikeouts and flamethrowing ability he makes up for with stellar control. His walk rate was just 3.6% last season, a rate that was one of the best in the league. To go with that, Manaea is also an extreme groundball pitcher, and 2020 was his best season yet in that regard, with a groundball rate allowed of 50.6%.
Manaea, for now, slots in at the top of the Devils rotation as the club is currently only holding potential activation Deivi Garcia as another option. GM Jason Watson is expected to release Max Scherzer (2/$68) before Draft Day though the club is reportedly open to a reunion at a more reasonable price.
The Stacks were without a 3rd Round selection and anxious to grab another pick to help restock a Farm System that is expected to graduate Vlad Guerrero, Jr., Kyle Tucker, Trent Grisham and Julio Urias. That would leave the club with just five prospects under contract and 12 openings to fill in the Reserve Draft.
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