Matt Manning, the former starting pitcher for the Detroit Tigers, has had an intriguing 2025 season. The 27-year-old Manning played in Triple-A Toledo to start the season inside the Tigers’ system.
Manning’s Triple-A career did not go well, either, as he pitched 31 games (four starts) with a 6.04 ERA. At the deadline, Detroit traded the former first-round pick to the Philadelphia Phillies for minor league outfielder Josueth Quinonez, deciding to part ways with him.
Manning saw joining the Phillies as an opportunity to start again and, ideally, a means of returning to the major leagues. However, the Phillies assigned the former Tigers pitching prospect on Friday, so that never happened.
Matt Manning Gets Cut by Phillies After Only 2 Minor League Starts
Despite being assigned to the Clearwater Threshers following the trade, the former Tigers starter did not start for the Phillies in the minor levels right away.
In the end of August, Manning made his minor league debut with Double-A Reading for the Phillies, making two starts. Those didn’t work out, though, as the former Tigers pitcher only struck out in five innings while giving up three hits, six earned runs, seven walks, and two wild pitches.
Additionally, he recorded an ERA of 10.80, which is unacceptable at any level of baseball. In order to give Manning an opportunity to be claimed on waivers, the Phillies determined it was prudent to DFA him.
However, given what we’ve seen of the former first-round selection this season at the Triple-A and Double-A levels, it’s difficult to imagine any team taking a risk on him. He might, however, benefit from his background as a highly-touted pitching prospect and a top-10 choice.
During his four years with the Tigers, Manning fell short of expectations. During his 50 appearances, he recorded a 4.43 ERA, including a 4.88 ERA in his last five 2024 starts.
Opponents were batting in the 2024 season. 287 off Manning was similar to his 2021 rookie season (.279). He had a career-best strikeout percentage of 18.7, although he had trouble with walks (9.8%).
Manning had trouble giving away free passes, which is something you can’t do, as we saw during his brief time with the Phillies’ Double-A team. We will have to wait until the winter to sign with a new team, but with only a few weeks remaining in the regular season, we will see whether the former Tigers’ pitching prospect gets a shot.
