The Samsung Lions of the Korea Baseball Organization announced the signing of right-hander Matt Manning to a one-year, $1MM contract. Manning was outrighted off the Phillies roster in September, and he elected minor league free agency earlier this month.
Manning was once one of baseball’s top pitching prospects, and he was a fixture of top-100 prospect rankings in the years following his selection as the ninth overall pick of the 2016 draft. He posted solid numbers on his way up the Tigers’ minor league ladder until his MLB debut in June 2021, but the strikeout ability Manning displayed in the minors didn’t translate to his work in the Show. Over 254 innings and 50 starts with Detroit from 2021-24, Manning posted a 4.43 ERA, 7.8% walk rate, and only a 16.4% strikeout rate.
Some injuries hampered Manning during this time, but the Tigers eventually decided to move on entirely from the right-hander. Manning spent the entire 2025 season in the minors, first with Triple-A Toledo and then with the Phillies’ Double-A affiliate in Reading after the Tigers designated Manning for assignment and traded him to Philadelphia just before the trade deadline.
Manning turns 28 in January, so between his relative youth and his past pedigree as a top prospect, it is a little surprising that he didn’t draw interest from any MLB teams on a minor league contract. The fact that Manning inked his deal with the Lions relatively early in the offseason, however, perhaps suggests that he wasn’t interested in waiting perhaps several more weeks to land a non-guaranteed deal, and then going through the grind of another season in the minor leagues. Manning is also now out of minor league options, so even if he did make a big league roster, he might’ve been facing more DFAs and outrights, plus potential moves to other teams on waiver claims or trades.
Rather than ride this carousel, Manning will get a $1MM payday from the Lions. The KBO League is generally a hitter-friendly league, yet the lesser level of competition might help Manning get his career on track. There have been several instances of pitchers who have used stints in the KBO to rework their pitching repertoire, post some strong numbers, and get back onto the radar of big league teams, so chances are we haven’t seen the last of Manning in a Major League organization.
1st round pick 5 time top 100 prospect. Solid bet to be the next Drew VerHagen or Aaron Brooks for the Cardinals in 2027.
Or Erick Fedde for the Redbirds.
Good move for him and players going overseas since MLB and union gonna have a lockout so good pay day is good and if does good than stay over there as there will be a lockout..
Former MLB do get paid: $500k to $2mil.
Their KBO teammates don’t get nearly that, with some receiving as little as $25k per season.
It’s a one year deal. The lockout wouldn’t take effect until after Manning’s deal expires
This guy would just be getting ready to roll and then break his foot on a comebacker or some other fluke. Never thought he had stuff to be 3/4 starter but thought he would end up as 5th/6th guy.
Still could come back to North America with improved secondary stuff after a couple years overseas. Sometimes just takes a guy to be in a whole new environment to figure stuff out.
He looked that way at the start of 2024 (backend, but legit MLB starter)… But sometime in the middle of that season in Toledo he seemed to just lose it. It coincided with him feeling like he’d been passed over, I don’t know how much of it is mental. Control wasn’t good and seemingly got worse when they converted him to relief. I think he needs this kind of total break with the mental strain of AAA and MLB roster moves.
Big frame but mediocre fastball. Never showed the 99 mph heat to make up for no real slider or changeup.
There was a time he was ranked higher than both Skubal and Mize. Hopefully this will help him regain his control, and get him back to the majors.
Enjoy that Daegu summer.
Nice and humid.
I’m surprised Mark didn’t mention Manning’s combined no-hitter in 2023. Seven no-hit frames followed by Foley and Lange.
A plan B that includes a million bucks is a solid fallback. Maybe he comes back or maybe he logs a few years overseas and saves well. With a little planning you can be set for life and comfortable with that kind of money. Might not drive a Bentley and own 3 houses but you’d never eat cat food.
Yer right, we tend to forget just how much money this is even on the low end of the scale. I spoke in support of Lewin Diaz taking another year at 1.5 million. It’s still life changing money which a guy barely 30 can live wisely and well on moving forward.
As someone mentioned, definitely a Fedde 2.0 candidate. We’ll have to see how he does in 2026, but there’s a good chance he lands an MLB deal in 2027, once the CBA is agreed upon…
He definitely has showed some good things but even his minor league stats took a huge step back this year so a move overseas makes sense for him to try and find his old form again.
I recall a few years ago there was an MLB.com contest about who would win the most Cy Youngs in the 2020’s. Manning was my pick. Never gave a second of thought to Skubal, who it’s likely to be….or Skene, who was still in college.
I thought Manning was potentially the next Roger Clemens.
It’s a gift. What can I say?
He was never the same once he took that combacker that broke his foot.
@mightytyke
You probably wouldn’t be the same either. I don’t know what the EV on that ball but if it’s anywhere int he 86+ range, that’s not going to feel nice. I hope he can rebuild his confidence and skill and get back on the MLB mound.
His velocity should help especially since he averages about 94 on his heater. Maybe he’ll work on his splitter, cut back on his curveball and fastball use and lean into his slider use even more.
Yes 1 year deal but if he has a good season, the team might want to resign him..