The Angels are taking a calculated swing at upside, signing right-hander Alek Manoah to a major league deal worth $1.95 million for 2026. It’s a low-risk, high-reward play on a pitcher who, not long ago, was one of the most promising arms in the game. With open spots on their 40-man roster, the Halos didn’t need to make a corresponding move, making the deal even more seamless.
Let’s be clear-this is a classic buy-low move. Manoah’s trajectory has been anything but linear.
Just a few seasons ago, he was a Cy Young finalist. Now, after injuries and struggles, he’s looking to reboot his career with a new team and a fresh opportunity.
From first-rounder to frontline starter
Manoah entered pro ball with big expectations after being selected 11th overall by the Blue Jays in 2019. He wasted little time making an impact.
By 2021, he was in the big leagues, and he didn’t just survive-he impressed. That rookie year saw him post a 3.22 ERA over 111 2/3 innings, striking out nearly 28% of the batters he faced.
The command was decent, the stuff played, and the confidence was unmistakable.
Then came 2022, his first full season, and Manoah took it up a notch. He made 31 starts, threw nearly 200 innings, and carved out a 2.24 ERA.
While his strikeout rate dipped slightly to 22.9%, he tightened up his control, cutting his walk rate to 6.5%. That performance earned him a third-place finish in the AL Cy Young voting-behind only Justin Verlander and Dylan Cease.
At that point, it looked like the Blue Jays had a frontline starter for years to come.
The unraveling
But the wheels came off in 2023. Manoah’s command faltered, his velocity dipped, and the results followed.
He was optioned to the minors multiple times and finished the year with a 5.87 ERA across 19 starts. His strikeout rate dropped to a below-average 19%, and his walk rate ballooned to an alarming 14.2%.
For a pitcher who had thrived on poise and precision, it was a stunning fall.
The Blue Jays explored trade options ahead of the 2024 season, and the Angels were reportedly among the teams checking in. But no deal materialized, and Manoah stayed in Toronto. Spring shoulder soreness delayed his season debut, and when he finally returned in May, he showed flashes of his old self-posting a 3.70 ERA over five starts, with a solid 25.2% strikeout rate and a walk rate under 8%.
Then came the elbow injury. A sprain shut him down again, and by June, he underwent Tommy John surgery, ending his season.
A long road back
Toronto held onto Manoah through the offseason and agreed to a $2.2 million salary for 2025 to avoid arbitration. He started the year on the 60-day injured list and began a rehab assignment in July. Those assignments can stretch to 60 days for pitchers returning from Tommy John, and Manoah used every bit of that window.
But the results weren’t encouraging. His rehab numbers included a 19.6% strikeout rate and a 12.8% walk rate-far from the dominance he once displayed.
With the Blue Jays’ rotation already stacked-featuring Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber, Chris Bassitt, José Berríos, and Max Scherzer-there simply wasn’t room. Manoah was reinstated from the IL but immediately optioned to Triple-A Buffalo.
When Toronto needed a 40-man roster spot to activate Anthony Santander, Manoah was the odd man out. He was designated for assignment and claimed by Atlanta, who held onto him briefly before non-tendering him. Now, he lands with the Angels, looking to rebuild his value.
What this means for the Angels
For the Halos, this is the second time this offseason they’ve taken a shot on a former top prospect whose career has been sidetracked by injuries. A few weeks ago, they traded Taylor Ward to the Orioles to acquire Grayson Rodriguez-another once-hyped arm who’s had trouble staying healthy. Now they’re hoping Manoah can rediscover his form.
The timing makes sense. The Angels’ pitching staff has been a weak spot for years, and 2025 was no exception.
Their team ERA finished at 4.89-better than only the Rockies and Nationals. The rotation posted a 4.91 ERA, again ahead of just those two clubs.
With Tyler Anderson hitting free agency, the need for arms became even more pressing.
Heading into 2026, only Yusei Kikuchi and José Soriano are penciled into rotation spots. Reid Detmers could get another shot after a rough 2024 and a bullpen stint in 2025, but he’s far from a lock. Beyond that, the Halos are looking at young, unproven options like Jack Kochanowicz, Caden Dana, and Sam Aldegheri-talented, but inconsistent.
Manoah still has minor league options, so the Angels can stash him in Triple-A if needed. And at $1.95 million, they’re not breaking the bank.
If he regains even a portion of his 2022 form, this could be a steal. If not, the financial hit is minimal.
Can Manoah get back to form?
That’s the big question. His fastball velocity in Triple-A this year averaged just 91 mph-down nearly three ticks from his 2022 average of 93.9.
That’s a significant drop, especially for a pitcher who leaned on his fastball-slider combo to overpower hitters. But sometimes, it takes a full year or more post-Tommy John to regain velocity and feel.
The Angels are clearly betting on that timeline.
And if he does rebound, there’s long-term upside here. Manoah would finish the 2026 season with under six years of service time, meaning the Angels could retain him via arbitration for 2027.
Bottom line: this is a smart, low-cost bet on talent. The Angels need arms, and Manoah needs a fresh start. It’s not the kind of move that makes headlines in December, but it’s the kind that could pay off in a big way if things click.