Angels Sign Alek Manoah to Major League Deal

The Los Angeles Angels just took a calculated gamble on right-hander Alek Manoah. They signed the former All-Star and Cy Young candidate to a $1.95 million major league deal for the 2026 season.

It’s a classic buy-low move on a pitcher whose fall from ace to non-tendered free agent happened as quickly as his rise. If he can reclaim even a piece of his old dominance, the Angels’ rotation could look a lot different for years.

Angels Bet on Upside After a Tumultuous Journey

The Angels signed Manoah at a time when they’re desperate for impact pitching. Their staff finished near the bottom of the league in ERA in 2025, so the front office had to get creative and find value without overspending.

Manoah’s path to Anaheim hasn’t been straightforward. Toronto drafted him 11th overall in 2019, and he rocketed to the big leagues, looking like a franchise cornerstone.

But injuries, performance issues, and major surgery turned one of baseball’s brightest young arms into a reclamation project. Anaheim’s taking a shot, hoping the talent is still in there somewhere.

From Cy Young Contender to Non-Tendered

Back in 2022, Manoah dominated the American League. He put up a 2.24 ERA and finished third in AL Cy Young voting, flashing a power fastball and that bulldog mentality Toronto loved.

He looked like a long-term ace you could build around. Then 2023 happened.

Manoah’s command vanished, his mechanics got messy, and his ERA ballooned to 5.87. Walks piled up, outings got shorter, and the steady presence atop the rotation started to look shaky.

The struggles weren’t just numbers on a stat sheet. You could see it on the mound—he fought to repeat his delivery and find the strike zone.

Injuries, Surgery, and a Steep Decline

The performance dip led to health problems that basically reset Manoah’s career. He landed on the injured list multiple times, with rehab assignments disrupting any rhythm he tried to build.

In June 2024, Manoah underwent Tommy John surgery. For a guy who relies on his fastball’s life and the bite of his slider, that meant not just a long layoff but a total rebuild of his arm and approach.

Waivers, DFA, and a Fresh Start

After surgery, Manoah couldn’t find his form in the Blue Jays’ system. His velocity dropped, his command wobbled, and Toronto eventually lost patience and roster space.

They designated him for assignment in late 2025, opening the door for another club. The Atlanta Braves claimed him off waivers, curious if they could unlock his pre-injury self.

But Atlanta had their own roster crunch and couldn’t wait on his recovery. They non-tendered him, making Manoah a free agent much earlier than anyone expected.

Why the Angels See a Low-Risk, High-Reward Opportunity

This is where the Angels stepped in. A $1.95 million deal for 2026 doesn’t break the bank, especially for a team starving for rotation depth.

It’s an upside play on a guy who once ranked among the sport’s elite. Manoah still has minor league options left, so the Angels can start him in Triple-A and take their time with his recovery.

They don’t have to rush him to Anaheim before he’s ready. That flexibility matters, especially with a pitcher coming off major surgery.

Velocity Concerns and the Road Back

The big question is Manoah’s stuff. In 2022, his fastball averaged 93.9 mph, letting him dominate hitters up in the zone and set up his other pitches.

This year in Triple-A, that number dropped to about 91 mph. A two- or three-mph dip can turn a swing-and-miss pitch into a ball that gets hit hard.

For Manoah to make it work in Anaheim, one of two things needs to happen:

• Velocity returns as he gets further from Tommy John and rebuilds strength, or
• He reinvents himself as a command-and-movement guy, focusing on location and sequencing instead of pure power.

Long-Term Potential and Organizational Impact

The Angels structured this deal with the future in mind. If Manoah figures it out—even as a mid-rotation stabilizer—Los Angeles could keep him under team control through arbitration in 2027.

That’s cost-controlled, prime-age pitching. For a franchise that’s paid top dollar for uncertain arms before, this feels like a different kind of bet: low cost, big upside, and roster flexibility baked in.

What Success Looks Like in Anaheim

Success for Manoah in 2026 doesn’t have to mean he’s suddenly back to Cy Young form. Honestly, the Angels would probably just love to see a healthy, league-average starter who eats up 150-plus innings.

If he goes beyond that—maybe the fastball gets some life, the slider bites like it did in 2022, and that swagger shows up again—well, that’s a whole different story. The Angels could end up with a long-term rotation piece at a bargain, which is pretty rare these days.

 
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