Veteran first baseman/outfielder Trey Mancini opted out of a minor league deal with the Marlins late last spring and did not sign a new deal with any team for the 2024 season, instead choosing to remain home. However, the 32-year-old tells Andy Kostka of the Baltimore Banner that after a year away from the game, he’s now eyeing a comeback bid in 2025.
Fans of Mancini will want to check out the piece in full. It’s rife with thoughtful quotes from Mancini and his wife on the slugger’s journey through his harrowing Stage 3 colon cancer diagnosis in 2020 and the mental toll that situation took on him even after he overcame the disease and made an inspirational return to baseball in 2021. Mancini said for the first several months of the season, he was at peace with his decision and thought he was content with the career he’d put together.
“But I think, at the same time, I don’t exactly love how things ended in my career, and I really do think if I’m in the right situation I can still be an impact bat,” Mancini told Kostka. “And I know saying that means nothing an I’d have to go out there and prove it, but I’m fully ready to go do that. I just kind of got that hunger back, out of nowhere, honestly.”
Prior to that cancer diagnosis, Mancini was a steady presence in the middle of a then-rebuilding Baltimore club’s lineup. He belted 24 homers in both 2017 and 2018 before enjoying a career-best .291/.364/.535 batting line in 2019. That was the year of the juiced ball, but Mancini’s batting line was still a hefty 32% better than league-average even in that heightened run-scoring environment, by measure of wRC+. He drilled 35 home runs that season, walked in a career-best 9.3% of his plate appearances and struck out at a career-low 21.1% rate. Juiced ball or not, Mancini had the clear look of a player on the rise in his age-27 season.
Mancini’s cancer diagnosis prevented him from playing in 2020 and changed both his career and broader life trajectory. He returned to a hero’s welcome in 2021 after announcing he was cancer free, went on to participate in that season’s Home Run Derby — finishing runner-up to Pete Alonso — and was ultimately named 2021’s American League Comeback Player of the Year. He split the 2022 campaign between the O’s and the Astros, moving to Houston at the deadline and going on to win a World Series ring.
Mancini’s time with the Astros, however, wasn’t up the standards he’d set in Baltimore. He was slashing .268/.347/.404 at the time of the trade but slumped to a .176/.258/.364 output with his new club as he adjusted to a new setting and more limited role. Mancini went on to sign a two-year, $14MM contract with the Cubs in the 2022-23 offseason but never found his footing in Chicago. He appeared in 79 games but batted only .234/.299/.336 with four home runs in 263 plate appearances before being released.
Only time will tell whether Mancini has another run in him, but he’s still just 32 years old (33 next March). Given his age and prior track record, a rebound campaign certainly isn’t out of the question, even if it’s something of a long shot (as is inherently the case with most mid-30s comeback endeavors). For clubs looking to add some right-handed pop to to their corner outfield/first base/bench mix, there’s virtually no risk in signing Mancini to what’d surely be a non-roster deal with a spring training invitation.
Baltimore should bring him back. He was the face of the franchise while they weren’t trying to win. If anyone deserves a shot to be with the team while they are winning, it is Mancini.
As an O’s fan, I love Trey and want to see his comeback attempt succeed, but there just isn’t anywhere for him to play in Baltimore anymore.
But is that actually the case? A non-roster invite and an opportunity to compete against Mounty in spring training would not be a bad thing. At one point, I thought Mounty would be a perennial 30-homer guy, but I just have not been impressed with his consistency over the past couple of years, and the clubhouse COULD use a veteran who has dealt with extreme adversity and come out the other side. Since Baltimore will be seeking an impact right-handed bat with corner OF experience already, I’m game for Trey to try. I was not of this opinion last year or 2023, mind you. But the circumstances now could warrant taking this seriously.
1B/DH is plenty covered already with Mountcastle, O’Hearn, Mayo, and Kjerstad, plus Basallo as a potential option later in the year, and Mancini isn’t even remotely capable of playing a passable LF at Camden Yards, which means he is not a fit in the OF either.
There is simply no world where it makes sense for Trey’s comeback attempt to occur in Baltimore.
Floch – 1B is not covered. We have seen zero indication Silent J will be put there. Mayo has not proven himself. Mounty has recurring vertigo and disappearing power. And O’Hearn is a platoon player.
1B is weak.
If Mounty is dealt then a minor league deal would be Ok as Mayo insurance. Better opps elsewhere for Trey though.
He should try Pittsburgh.
Every single person I mentioned is objectively a better option than present day Trey Mancini.
And if our 1B situation was actually weak, we probably would not have shopped Mountcastle at the deadline.
With Santander most likely leaving, Kjerstad will be in the outfield. Mayo looks so far like a backup at all four corner spots until he takes someone’s spot. Mountcastle is good but not great, and could be traded. And O’Hearn’s $8 million option could be declined. 1B is hardly covered. Of course if the team surprises everyone and resigns Santander, that would completely change this scenario.
Floch – disagree.
1B is in no way set.
And Mancini is also likely to be cheaper than carrying all four of those players.
If money needs to be freed up for keeping Tony or signing a starter, 1B is a great place to start.
I mean, yeah, if you’re going to get rid of multiple productive players and replace them with literally nothing, I guess there’s room for Trey.
@Floch
Our RH hitting OF production was weak and we still shopped Austin Hays. We have 1B options but a RH bat is needed. I don’t think that guy is Trey though.
The bottom line is that we already have 4 or 5 solid in-house options for 1B next year and much more obvious needs elsewhere on the roster, like RH-hitting OF and a decent backup C.
Hopefully Trey finds somewhere to play in 2025, there is just no good reason for it to be in Baltimore.
jbigz- We obviously need a RHB for the OF mix to compliment LHBs Cowser, Mullins, and Kjerstad, but Trey Mancini isn’t really an OF, and especially not at OPACY, so he would be of no help there.
Agreed. If mounty is traded—I wouldn’t mind Trey or someone as RH insurance in AAA. Long off-season and there’s clearer paths elsewhere for Trey.
“Deserves a shot”…No one in MLB inherently “deserves a shot” over the hundreds of other players seeking to gain roster spots on an MLB team.
I understand that Mancini is a sympathetic figure for defeating cancer, but fundamental fairness dictates that he EARN a spot on the field, not be handed one on a team loaded with young athletic players.
Sir, I believe your use of sympathetic figure is incorrect. I believe Mr Mancini, as well as myself and maybe others, would prefer Inspirational Figure. I am thinking that Mr Mancini could give a dam less about receiving your sympathy, as most cancer patients and survivors feel the same.
Regarding him “deserving a shot”….I believe that his past performances would give him the “earned a spot” to a shot at spring training.
“Inspirational figure”…I can agree with that. It’s a good point actually, but taking that too far will make your team into the “lets bring back the band” St. Louis Cardinals who, seemingly use sentiment, in practically all of their baseball decisions.
You are very correct. I watched the Phillies do that from 2009 through 2011. Short span but painful to watch.
He “deserves” a shot at a non roster invite to spring training based upon his past performance. That’s all. afrer that, it’s about performance.
I disagree with that. I think players that try their best and succeed for teams that are clearly not trying to compete do deserve a shot more than others. It’s the same reason I feel that managers of rebuilding teams should always be kept around once the team is rebuilt. These guys are treated like seat fillers at awards shows. Stay there until we are ready for the big names, then get out. It’s just not right.
” Deserve a shot more than others”…”This why we have a fixed bid club, because everyone has a reason that they should go to the head of the line” – Tony Soprano.
Like Jonathan Schoop, Mancini had bloated stats thanks to the old short porch in Camden Yards. Again, like Schoop, his stats dropped sharply once he started playing in ‘real’ stadiums. I like Trey, but I only see him with Sacramento, Colorado or maybe Tampa.
Trey put up a 116 OPS+ with the new wall in 2022.
That’s right on target with mounty’s production.
That’s nice, but there’s no real reason to think Trey can match Mountcastle’s production in 2025, which is what actually matters.
I don’t think so either. Trey did hit with the wall moved out though. That was my only comment.
What a perfect fit for Detroit
LFG, Trey! Good luck!
Cardinals kick the tires
I’m sure he gets a chance somewhere. At least on a minor league deal, which is an opportunity. Look at what taking a minor league deal did for Jose Iglesias last season. A minor league deal with a path to the big leagues, or a big league deal on a bad team with trade potential at the deadline. I’m guessing those are best opportunities next year.
“Did for Jose Iglesias”..I had seen Iglesias play dozens of times in the last several years and frankly, I thought Met’s fans were nuts for suggesting he be called up from AAA.
Boy, was I wrong on that one, as Iglesias was EXCELLENT for the Mets in the 2nd half and actually put up more WAR than Pete Alonso, in about half as many at-bats.
Iglesias was much more of an asset than Pete A. and yet no one will suggest he seek a contract of $25M+ per year like Alonso most likely will.
It is wild to me that Iggy was not in the big leagues earlier in 2024. As a defender & contact hitter he’s been reliable everywhere he’s played.
This’ll be the best comeback since Twinkies
Interestingly, i was thinking of the Twins as a minor league invite to compete for 1B/DH AB’s
I’d really love for him to come back to Houston to complement Singleton
Trey is a class act. A lot of players, and every Yankee fan, could learn from him.
Trey, have your agent call the Twins.
Their oft-injured 1B/OF/DH
just pulled the plug on his playing career
Also with the team’s Pohlad Family ownership,
Team management has always been bottom feeders,
looking to get by on the cheap by shopping for bargains.
Detroit, Detroit!
Angels…
Just tell me that Hoyer isn’t interested in any way. And I mean in any way whatsoever.
Any guy who beat cancer, I will root for. Maybe he goes into a LHP situation. Good clubhouse guy as well. Good luck Trey.
Perfect for the Pirates
Get ’em Boomer!!