The Angels are taking a chance on a once-promising young arm, announcing on Tuesday that they have signed right-hander Alek Manoah to a one-year deal worth $1.95 million.
Manoah, 27, was an All-Star with the Blue Jays in 2022, and he represents an interesting reclamation project for the Angels under their new manager Kurt Suzuki and veteran pitching coach Mike Maddux. Manoah is the second pitcher added to the roster this offseason, joining right-hander Grayson Rodriguez, who was acquired in a trade for outfielder Taylor Ward in November.
Manoah finished third in the balloting for the AL Cy Young Award in his second season in ‘22, posting a 2.24 ERA with 180 strikeouts in 196 2/3 innings. But he dealt with command issues in 2023, carrying a 5.87 ERA with 59 walks in 87 1/3 innings, and he spent time in the Minors during June and July that season to try to get things back on track.
He pitched better in 2024, with a 3.70 ERA and eight walks in 24 1/3 innings for Toronto after making one start at Single-A Dunedin and four starts at Triple-A Buffalo, but he underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in June of that year. He hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since undergoing that operation, though he finished last year healthy.
In Manoah's return from his repaired ulnar collateral ligament, he made 10 rehab starts in the Minors in 2025, posting a 3.96 ERA with 35 strikeouts and 23 walks in 38 2/3 innings, including a 2.97 ERA in 33 1/3 innings with Buffalo. But the Blue Jays designated him for assignment on Sept. 23, ending a tenure in Toronto that saw Manoah become a fan favorite with his fiery on-field attitude and affable nature off the diamond.
The Braves took a chance on Manoah in late September, claiming him on waivers -- ultimately deciding to non-tender him before last week’s deadline, making him a free agent. With the Angels in need of pitching, Manoah offers plenty of upside to compete for a spot in a rotation that includes Jose Soriano, Yusei Kikuchi, Reid Detmers and Rodriguez, who also didn’t pitch in ’25 and had bone spurs removed from his right elbow in August.
Manoah’s biggest issues remain his walk rate and propensity to throw wild pitches, including an errant fastball that hit Ward in the face in July 2023 that required facial surgery and ended Ward's season. But Manoah he has plus stuff when he’s in the zone, which is why he was the No. 11 overall Draft pick out of West Virginia University in 2019 and why he had such early success in his career in ’21 and ’22.