The Braves have claimed right-hander Alek Manoah off waivers from the Blue Jays, based on bulletins from each golf equipment. Toronto designated him for project earlier this week. To open a 40-man spot for Manoah, Atlanta transferred infielder Ozzie Albies to the 60-day injured listing.
Manoah, 27, has been trending down for a couple of years however is a former Cy Younger contender. In 2022, he made 31 begins for the Blue Jays, tossing 196 2/3 innings with a 2.24 earned run common. That ERA was most likely a bit deceptive. Manoah’s 6.5% stroll fee was good however his 22.9% strikeout fee was solely about common and his 37.5% floor ball fee was subpar. He benefited from a .244 batting common on balls in play and 82.6% strand fee. Adjusted metrics like his 3.35 FIP and his 3.85 SIERA thought he was extra good than nice. Regardless, Manoah completed third in American League Cy Younger voting, behind Justin Verlander and Dylan Stop.
A serious correction got here within the following season. Manoah was optioned to the minors in early June of 2023 after posting a 6.36 ERA in his first 13 begins. His strikeout fee had dropped to 17% whereas his walked fee had climbed to 14.9%. He got here again as much as make a couple of extra begins within the second half however completed the yr with a 5.87 ERA over 19 begins.
Going into 2024, there have been some commerce rumors surrounding Manoah however he ended up staying with the Jays. He missed the beginning of the season resulting from some shoulder soreness. He was in a position to come off the IL in Could and made 5 first rate begins, with a 3.70 ERA, 25.2% strikeout fee and seven.8% stroll fee. Nonetheless, he then required Tommy John surgical procedure, placing him out of motion for the remainder of the yr.
Right here in 2025, Manoah has been working to get again on monitor however it hasn’t been an encouraging return. He has thrown 38 2/3 innings within the minors this yr, totally on rehab however the Jays additionally ultimately reinstated him from the IL and optioned him. His 3.96 ERA in these minor league innings isn’t unhealthy however his 19.6% strikeout fee and 12.8% stroll fee are each poor. He has solely been averaging 91 miles per hour on his fastball, whereas he was round 94 mph in that nice 2022 season.
This was Manoah’s first of three arbitration seasons and he’s making $2.2MM. Since he hasn’t pitched within the massive leagues this yr, he needs to be in line to make the identical wage subsequent yr. The Jays not too long ago wanted a 40-man spot to reinstate Anthony Santander from the 60-day IL they usually bumped Manoah off. That appears to recommend they weren’t planning to tender Manoah a contract and hold him round for subsequent yr.
He’s a wise flier for an additional membership to take. A wage between $2MM and $3MM is tiny by fashionable beginning pitching requirements. Gentle-tossing veterans like Kyle Hendricks and Wade Miley every signed for $2.5MM final offseason. If Manoah can regain a few of his misplaced velocity subsequent yr, there can be the added upside of him being controllable in 2027 as effectively. He additionally nonetheless has choices, that means he could possibly be stashed in Triple-A as depth if he nonetheless isn’t again on monitor by March of subsequent yr.
That makes it considerably shocking that a couple of golf equipment handed on Manoah. Waivers go in reverse order of the standings and usually are not league particular. With Atlanta profitable the declare, it may be concluded that the Rockies, White Sox, Nationals, Twins, Pirates and Angels all handed. A few of these golf equipment have first rate pitching, regardless of their poor information. However a couple of of these groups are determined for arms, notably the Rockies, who’ve a 6.02 ERA this season. Given their difficulties in convincing free brokers to pitch at Coors Subject, it’s a bit startling to see them shrug right here.
Atlanta got here into 2025 with championship aspirations however it was a Murphy’s legislation season. A mountain of accidents, some poor performances and a PED suspension for Jurickson Profar all mixed to supply a dreadful marketing campaign. As they’ve been enjoying out the string, president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos has been making an attempt to make the most of any alternative to seize gamers who would possibly assist the membership bounce again subsequent yr.
Prior to now two months, Atlanta has claimed Ha-Seong Kim, Jake Fraley, Joey Wentz, Vidal Bruján, Brett Properly, Joel Payamps, Chuckie Robinson, Alexis Díaz and now Manoah off waivers. Presumably, the membership is snug tendering Manoah a contract for subsequent yr, although they don’t must resolve on that in the present day. Maybe they may have Manoah report back to one in all their amenities to throw some bullpens as they take a close-up take a look at him. In the event that they need to, they may at all times stroll away earlier than the deadline to tender contracts to arbitration-eligible gamers, which is often in late November.
Going into 2026, Atlanta’s rotation tasks to probably embody Chris Sale, Hurston Waldrep, Spencer Strider, Reynaldo López, Spencer Schwellenbach, Grant Holmes, Bryce Elder and others. That’s a number of names however there are many query marks in there. Sale has had loads of accidents through the years and turns 37 in March. Waldrep could also be having a pleasant breakout however nonetheless has lower than 70 massive league innings pitched. Strider returned from his personal surgical procedure absence this yr and hasn’t been his regular self. López missed nearly this complete season resulting from a shoulder harm. Schwellenbach has been out nearly three months resulting from an elbow fracture. Holmes most likely wants UCL surgical procedure however is making an attempt non-surgical rehab for now. Elder has an unimpressive 5.30 ERA this yr.
Assuming Manoah is tendered a contract, he cheaply provides one other identify into that blend and provides the membership some extra rotation depth. As talked about, he has choices and will be despatched to Triple-A Gwinnett if he doesn’t earn a rotation job out of camp. If he is ready to return to kind, Atlanta may management him for the 2027 season as effectively.
It’s additionally potential they tender him a contract after which attempt to go him via waivers later. Manoah will end this yr between 4 and 5 years of main league service time. Which means he has the fitting to reject outright assignments however has to stroll away from his remaining wage commitments in exercising that proper. Gamers in that spot typically discover themselves making a couple of million, which decreases the probabilities of them being claimed, permitting the membership to stash them as non-roster depth.
As for Albies, he suffered a hamate fracture a couple of days in the past and was going to overlook the rest of the season. He’ll spend the remainder of the marketing campaign on the 60-day IL however will should be reinstated for the offseason, because the IL goes away 5 days after the World Collection and doesn’t come again till pitchers and catchers report back to spring coaching.
Picture courtesy of Kamil Krzaczynski, Imagn Photographs
