Blue Jays open to trading young right-handed pitcher (report)
The Toronto Blue Jays maybe “open to moving” right-handed starter Alek Manoah, per The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal.
It’s not known as to how “open” the Blue Jays are to the idea of trading Manoah, especially with his value at an all-time low. If Toronto moved on for the righty, they would also be giving up on four years of team control.
Following a 2022 season, where Manoah finished third in American League Cy Young voting, he struggled this season, posting a 5.87 ERA with a 79-to-59 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .269 batting average against and a horrendous 1.74 WHIP in 87 1/3 innings across 19 games.
Manoah was demoted to the minors midway through the season. That demotion reportedly caused some hurt feelings for the righty and he felt the team optioning to the minors cost his service time to claim Super Two status.
The 25-year-old reportedly came into camp last season dealing with a shoulder issue, according to Jays’ righty Kevin Gausman and that he "never got in a good spot with his arm and his mechanics."
At the GM Meetings, Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins told reporters that Manoah "has earned already the right to have a strong leg up” for a spot in the 2024 rotation.
“And I feel so good about him returning back to the 2021-22 version of himself that I think that's a really good starting point for him," Atkins added.
If Manoah can fix his issues from 2023, he is an instant impact starter in the Blue Jays rotation. Toronto is expected to go into next season with Kevin Gausman, José Berríos, Chris Bassitt and Yusei Kikuchi in the rotation. Manoah will get an opportunity to secure a spot but will have competition.
Atkins mentioned Bowden Francis, Mitch White and Wes Parsons as alternatives for the rotation, and top prospect and Arizona Fall League Pitcher of the Year Ricky Tiedemann as all candidates for a spot in the rotation.
“The start to his off-season and his mindset right now are encouraging,” said Atkins.
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