Angels sign Alek Manoah to 1-year, $1.95 million deal, per report

The Los Angeles Angels are taking a chance on Alek Manoah, believing he still has strong pitching potential.

Alek Manoah, formerly a starting pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays, has signed a one-year contract worth $1.95 million with the Angels, according to MLB.com. Both the team and player are hoping for a revival in performance for the once-promising pitcher.

Three years ago, Manoah was a finalist for the AL Cy Young Award following a breakout 2022 season in Toronto. At just 24 years old, he looked poised to become an ace. However, in 2023, his performance plummeted from a 2.26 ERA to a 5.87 ERA, leading to a demotion to the minors despite no structural injuries being found in MRI scans. He did receive some injections at the end of that season.

Manoah returned in 2024, showing promise in five starts before tearing his UCL and requiring surgery. He did not pitch again until August 2025 and never appeared in the majors that year. In Triple-A Buffalo, he posted a 2.97 ERA over seven starts, but the Blue Jays still waived him. The Atlanta Braves claimed him but non-tendered him the following month.

Despite these setbacks, the Angels are betting Manoah can rebound. If he approaches his 2022 form, the contract could be an exceptional value, though that remains uncertain.

This signing is part of the Angels ongoing efforts to rebuild their rotation, which ranked 28th in MLB last season with a 4.91 ERA. Previously, they acquired Grayson Rodriguez, another starter recovering from significant elbow surgery, in a trade with the Baltimore Orioles.

Author: Sophia Brooks