Alek Manoah, a former baseball All-Star, has signed a new contract with the Angels, offering him a chance to revive his major league career. This one-year deal, worth $1.95 million, was confirmed by Jon Heyman of The Post.
Manoah's journey has been a rollercoaster. After being designated for assignment by the Blue Jays in September and briefly picked up by the Braves, he didn't pitch in the big leagues in 2025. Atlanta later non-tendered him in November.
ESPN's Jeff Passan broke the news of Manoah's signing. A first-round draft pick from West Virginia in 2019, Manoah quickly rose through the Toronto system as a top prospect. He made a splash in 2021 with a 3.22 ERA in 20 starts, earning him an eighth-place finish in the American League Rookie of the Year voting.
His 2022 season was even more impressive, with a 2.24 ERA and 180 strikeouts in 196 2/3 innings. This performance earned him a spot on the AL All-Star team and a third-place finish in the Cy Young race.
But this high point proved elusive to replicate. Manoah's 2023 was marred by poor numbers (5.87 ERA, 1.74 WHIP) and a demotion to the rookie-level Florida Complex League, where he struggled in a June start.
However, there were signs of improvement in 2024. Unfortunately, after just 24 1/3 innings, Manoah required surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow, sidelining him from June 2024 until the start of the 2025 season.
The 27-year-old made his return in July 2025 on a minor league rehab assignment, posting a respectable 2.97 ERA across seven Triple-A starts. Despite this, Toronto decided to part ways with him just weeks before their historic playoff run, which culminated in their first World Series appearance in 32 years.
Now, Manoah joins the Angels, a team that finished with the third-worst team ERA and WHIP in 2025. This move offers him a fresh start and the opportunity to rebuild his career.
But here's where it gets interesting: Can Manoah regain his All-Star form and help turn around the Angels' pitching fortunes? Or will he continue to struggle and find himself on the periphery of the big leagues once more? Only time will tell.
What do you think? Do you believe Manoah can make a successful comeback, or is this a risky move for the Angels? Let's discuss in the comments!
