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Giants move struggling Manaea to bullpen: 'Only got myself to blame'

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The San Francisco Giants are moving left-hander Sean Manaea to the bullpen as his early-season struggles continue, and he's taking the demotion in stride.

"I've only got myself to blame," Manaea told John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle.

Manaea joined the Giants on a two-year, $25-million contract this past offseason. He signed with San Francisco following a career-worst 2022 campaign with the San Diego Padres that saw him bumped from their rotation down the stretch; he was limited to just one mop-up appearance during their playoff run.

The Giants were undoubtedly hoping a return to the Bay Area would help Manaea rediscover his form. He was once a rising star with the Oakland Athletics, compiling a 3.86 ERA and 1.20 WHIP during his first six seasons with Oakland, a run that included a no-hitter.

But Manaea's struggles have intensified in 2023. Through eight appearances with San Francisco, he owns a 7.96 ERA and 1.77 WHIP while walking 16 batters in 26 innings and allowing over two home runs per nine innings pitched.

The 31-year-old surrendered eight runs (four earned) over just 2.2 innings against the lowly Washington Nationals in his most recent start on May 10. That was the final straw for Giants manager Gabe Kapler, who will now use Manaea primarily in long relief.

Manaea is embracing the change and believes the bullpen is the right place to rebound from his recent woes.

"At the end of the day, it's going to be a blessing in disguise," he said. "I'll go in there with the right mindset and work on things I need to and get my stuff to a consistent shape and obviously try to get guys out in an efficient manner. Whatever that is and whenever those opportunities arise, I've just got to take them and run with it."

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