Braves add former All-Star, hoping to revamp his career

Alek Manoah has had a rough couple of seasons

It hasn’t been the easiest past couple of years for the young right-hander, as Manoah struggled mightily in 2023, going 3-9 with a 5.87 ERA in 31 starts (87.1 innings). Manoah also had to undergo Tommy John surgery, which cost him virtually all of the 2024 season, when he made five starts and had a 3.70 ERA in 24.1 innings. Manoah also dealt with right shoulder inflammation in spring training. 

Manoah’s injuries made him a completely different pitcher than he was the first two seasons of his career. In 2021, Manoah posted a 9-2 record with a 3.22 ERA in 20 starts (111.2 innings). He was better in 2022, finishing with a 16-7 record and 2.24 ERA. He ended up finishing third in the American League Cy Young award voting and was named an All-Star.

A change of scenery could do Alek Manoah some good

Even though Manoah has struggled to stay healthy and be in the big leagues for the past couple of seasons, the Braves are getting a valuable pitcher, especially since he’s just 27 years old. According to Spotrac, Manoah will be in his second year of arbitration next season, which makes him relatively cheap for the next few seasons. 

A change of scenery and a fresh start could be what Manoah needs to get him back to the pitcher he was and becoming. Changes of scenery have helped countless players find themselves. 

A notable player to benefit from a change of scenery was Andrew Vaughn; with the Chicago White Sox, he hit .198 with an OPS of .531 in 48 games, while he’s hitting .316 with an OPS of .885 in 61 games with the Milwaukee Brewers. 

The Braves have helped a pitcher get back to his All-Star form was Chris Sale. Sale struggled in his final season with the Boston Red Sox, going 6-5 with a 4.30 ERA. Sale went 18-3 with an ERA of 2.38 in 177.2 innings and won the National League Cy Young award in his first season with the Braves after getting dealt from the Red Sox. Perhaps a similar resurgence can happen for Manoah.