Blue Jays finally move on from former All-Star

Alek Manoah was expected to be the Toronto Blue Jays' next homegrown pitching star. Instead, he may be on his way out the door.

The Blue Jays announced on Tuesday that outfielder Anthony Santander had been reinstated from the 60-day injured list. Manoah was designated for assignment to make room for Santander on the 40-man roster.

Blue Jays giving up on Alek Manoah ever finding his previous form

Manoah had been a well-regarded prospect in the Blue Jays system, rated as the 83rd-best prospect in baseball by Baseball Prospectus ahead of the 2020 season. He made his major league debut the following year, posting a 3.22 ERA and a 1.048 WHIP over 111.2 innings, striking out 127 batters with 40 walks. Manoah's performance earned down-ballot votes for Rookie of the Year as he finished eighth.

His breakout season came in 2022. Manoah made what was expected to be the first of several All-Star rosters, posting a 16-7 record with a 2.24 ERA and a 0.992 WHIP in his 196.2 innings, striking out 180 batters with 51 walks. He finished third in the Cy Young vote that year and, at 24 years old, appeared to be a key piece of the Blue Jays' future.

Instead, Manoah never built off that promise. He showed up to spring training in 2023 out of shape, leading MLB analyst Anthony Recker to say he wanted to see Manoah "in the gym more." Manoah was one of the worst pitchers in the majors in 2023, posting a 5.87 ERA and a 1.740 WHIP over 87.1 innings, leading to a stint in the Florida Complex League and his eventually being shuttled to Triple-A.

He appeared to be returning to form in 2024 before injuries struck. Manoah underwent elbow surgery after five starts in Toronto, having a hybrid procedure that included an internal brace. He returned to the mound in July, spending the rest of the season in the minors.

On the surface, Manoah appeared to have success at Triple-A, posting a 2.97 ERA and a 1.350 WHIP in 33.1 innings. However, he issued 4.9 walks per nine innings while giving up six home runs. His fastball velocity was down 2.5 mph from his peak in 2022, furthering concerns as to whether or not he will ever return to his All-Star form.

Chances are, Manoah will find an opportunity elsewhere. He can become a minor league free agent during the offseason if he clears waivers. Manoah also has two options remaining, giving a team a chance to see what they have without taking up a major league spot. It is not the ending that anyone would have expected with Manoah and the Blue Jays just three years ago.