Cubs' Trey Mancini: Working on opposite-field hitting
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Mancini is aiming to hit "with authority" up the middle and to the opposite field this season, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
More than half of Mancini's career-high 35 home runs back in 2019 went to center or right field, and he's looking to get back to that approach in 2023. The 31-year-old hit 18 long balls last season with Baltimore and Houston in what was a bit of a down year, as he finished with a career-worst .710 OPS. Mancini should see plenty of playing time with the Cubs and could see his numbers climb back upward.
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Cubs' Trey Mancini: Hits first spring home run
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Mancini went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and two runs scored in Sunday's Cactus League game against the Rockies.
Notably, Mancini started this game in right field, where he could play some in the early going with Seiya Suzuki (oblique) unlikely to be ready for the start of the regular season. Mancini has a strong .538 batting average so far this spring, and he could have decent fantasy appeal as an everyday player for the Cubs this year, with his playing time coming in right, as well as at first base and DH.
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Cubs' Trey Mancini: May play some in right
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Mancini is an option to play some in right field with Seiya Suzuki (oblique) questionable for the start of the regular season, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
The veteran slugger is primarily a first baseman and will likely get some starts at DH, but the Cubs could try him in right field, especially with Seiya Suzuki (oblique) set to miss the start of the season. Mancini logged 86 innings in right last season and was a plus defender there. No matter where he plays, he should get plenty of at-bats in 2023 for a Chicago team looking to boost its offense.
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Cubs' Trey Mancini: Two hits in team debut
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Mancini went 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored in Saturday's Cactus League game against the Giants.
Mancini looked good in his first game with the Cubs. The veteran was brought over in the offseason to likely fill the DH role most days, though he could also see some time at first base. Mancini had a down year with a career-worst .710 OPS in 2022, but he still hit 18 home runs to go along with 63 RBI.
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Cubs' Trey Mancini: Won't play for Italy in WBC
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Mancini will not play for Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Mancini believes that it will be better for him to spend that time with his new organization rather than participate in the WBC. The 30-year-old was signed to a two-year, $14 million contract with the Cubs after declining a $10 million option with the Astros after the season. He's expected to see plenty of playing time at first base and designated hitter while he's with Chicago.
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Cubs' Trey Mancini: Two-year deal with Cubs
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Mancini agreed Saturday with the Cubs on a two-year, $14 million deal that includes an opt-out clause after the first season, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.
Per Rogers, Mancini is likely to see time at first base and designated hitter for the Cubs. A longtime Oriole, Mancini was dealt to the Astros ahead of the trade deadline last season and struggled to the tune of a .176/.258/.364 line following the trade, resulting in Houston declining his $10 million option for 2023. Mancini, who turns 31 in March, is a career .265/.330/.457 hitter in the major leagues.
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Trey Mancini: On way out of Houston
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The Astros declined their $10 million mutual option on Mancini's contract for 2023 on Wednesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Considering that Mancini wasn't an everyday player during the Astros' run to the World Series and hit just .176 to close out the regular season after coming over in a trade with the Orioles on Aug. 1, Houston's decision to move on from him isn't a major surprise. The 30-year-old's solid track record prior to arriving in Houston should give him a good chance at resurfacing elsewhere in 2023 as a regular starter at either first or designated hitter.
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Astros' Trey Mancini: Sitting in third straight
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Mancini is out of the lineup Wednesday for Game 4 of the World Series matchup with the Phillies, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Mancini has now been excluded from the starting nine of the third game in a row and appears to have lost hold of his regular spot in the lineup. Aledmys Diaz will man left field while Yordan Alvarez handles designated-hitter duties in Game 4.
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Astros' Trey Mancini: Sits second straight
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Mancini is not in the lineup for Game 3 of the World Series against the Phillies, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Mancini has acted as a liability at the plate all postseason for Houston, remaining hitless through 16 at-bats. His struggles will move him to the bench and allow David Hensley to fill in as the Astros' designated hitter Monday, batting seventh.
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Astros' Trey Mancini: Heads to bench
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Mancini will be on the bench for Game 2 of the World Series against the Phillies, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Mancini is struggling significantly at the plate this postseason, going hitless in 16 at-bats. Aledmys Diaz will take his place in the lineup, starting in left field and pushing Yordan Alvarez to the designated hitter spot.
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Astros' Trey Mancini: On bench again
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Mancini is not in the lineup for Game 2 of the ALCS versus the Yankees on Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
The 30-year-old sat for the series opener Wednesday and didn't make an appearance off the bench, and he won't join the lineup for Game 2. Mancini appeared in 51 games for Houston this season after being acquired at the trade deadline and posted a .622 OPS with eight home runs and 22 RBI. Aledmys Diaz will receive another start in left field while Yordan Alvarez serves as the designated hitter.
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Astros' Trey Mancini: Sitting for Game 1
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Mancini is out of the lineup Wednesday for Game 1 of the Astros' American League Championship Series matchup with the Yankees, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Through Houston's first four postseason contests, Mancini and Aledmys Diaz have now made two starts apiece as the Astros' designated hitter. Neither of the two has done much to create separation in the job battle, as Mancini and Diaz have combined to go 1-for-13 thus far in the playoffs.
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Astros' Trey Mancini: Takes seat Thursday
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Mancini is not in the lineup for Game 2 of Houston's ALDS matchup with Seattle.
Mancini went hitless in four Game 1 at-bats, so manager Dusty Baker decided to hold him out Thursday and go with Aledmys Diaz as the designated hitter.
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Astros' Trey Mancini: Not in Tuesday's lineup
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Mancini is not in Tuesday's lineup against the Phillies.
Mancini continues to scuffle with his new team, hitting .129 with two doubles over his last 10 games. Aledmys Diaz draws the start in left field, batting seventh.
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Astros' Trey Mancini: On bench Saturday
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Mancini isn't starting Saturday against the Rays.
Mancini will get a day off after he went 1-for-10 with a double, a run, an RBI, two walks and a strikeout over his last three games. Yordan Alvarez is serving as the designated hitter while Aledmys Diaz starts in left field.
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Astros' Trey Mancini: Out of Sunday's lineup
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Mancini is not in Sunday's lineup against the Orioles.
Mancini will sit for back-to-back games after starting in 10 straight. Mauricio Dubon will start in left field with Yordan Alvarez getting the nod at designated hitter.
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Astros' Trey Mancini: Out of lineup Saturday
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Mancini isn't starting Saturday against the Orioles.
Mancini is resting after he went 0-for-10 with three strikeouts over the last three games. Yordan Alvarez will serve as the designated hitter and bat third.
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Astros' Trey Mancini: Out of Tuesday's lineup
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Mancini is not in Tuesday's lineup against the Tigers.
Aledmys Diaz (groin) was activated after missing four weeks, which introduces another competent hitter who can steal time from Mancini in left field, at first base and at designated hitter. Mancini is hitting .172 with a .368 OBP and one home run in his last 10 games.
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Astros' Trey Mancini: Smacks home run Sunday
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Mancini went 1-for-2 with a three-run home run in Sunday's victory over the Angels.
Mancini was selective at the dish Sunday as he walked three times and homered on a full count. His home run in the fifth inning, his 17th on the season, was a three-run blast that extended the Astros' lead to five. Since joining the Astros on Aug. 2, Mancini is batting .206 (21-for-102) with seven home runs, 20 RBI and 14 runs scored.
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Astros' Trey Mancini: Starting after all
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Mancini is starting Friday against the Angels.
An initial lineup listed by the Astros didn't have Mancini in the starting nine, but he'll ultimately start at first base and bat sixth. Over six games since the start of September, he's gone 3-for-18 with a double, three runs, two walks and four strikeouts.
