Beyond the Nest: Toronto Blue Jays Baseball Hub

The Toronto Blue Jays CANNOT give up on Alek Manoah, not just yet. The 25 year old right hander broke onto the Major League scene in 2021 for the Blue Jays, putting up a 3.22 ERA in his rookie campaign and a Cy Young worthy 2.24 ERA in the 2022 season alongside nearly 200 innings pitched that year. However, 2023 was a season that both he and Jays fans want to forget for good. Last season, Manoah only made 19 starts for the big league club, but massively struggled with a 5.87 ERA in only 87 innings pitched. Unsurprisingly, he would be optioned twice down to AAA Buffalo, but this would not come without some dramatics.

What Happened

For those of you unaware of the new rule changes for the 2023 season, among them was the implementation of a pitch clock. The pitcher was to throw his pitch within 15 seconds of each other, or 20 seconds if there were runners on base. This rule, along with others, sparked some outrage among the baseball community, with fans saying that the game was not meant to be timed like Basketball or football. But in Manoah’s case, was the pitch clock his kryptonite? Was he unable to catch his breath or focus within that 15 or 20 second time limit? While some fans argue that his weight, 285 lbs. according to Baseball Reference, caused him to struggle with the pitch clock, others believe that hitters just got the better of him this year. While a minor league stint was the right call, he still struggled putting away hitters on two strike counts, and was demoted again in mid-August, this time causing some friction between him and the organization.

This was where things supposedly got dicey, as Manoah refused to report to Buffalo for his second demotion of the year. As it turns out, Manoah was undergoing several medical tests and injections at his own request, nothing mandated by the team. At this point, many believe that Manoah’s problems may be more mental than mound related, and that makes sense, as he did not look confident at all throughout the season. I personally think he was called back up too early, some would agree, some wouldn’t. One thing we can’t ignore is his proven ability as a starting pitcher, and while his past stats may not guarantee his future with the team, they should be enough to keep him around through at least the 2024 season.

The ‘Keep Him’ Case

Contrary to many fans’ beliefs, I think the team should not trade Alek Manoah through the 2024 season. Baseball is a mental game more than anything, and if his struggles are in his head, he deserves a chance to address them with enough time. There are two other pretty big reasons why they should keep him. First, his trade value is at an all-time low, and the Blue Jays would need to get an MLB level starter to replace Alek as the fifth starter in 2024. At this point in time, the Jays will not get anything worthwhile for him, AND he is under team control through 2027, so he won’t be a drain on the payroll.

If the Blue Jays can prioritize bolstering their bats this offseason, that may cancel out the rough outings that Manoah may have in 2024. Mental issues aside, I do agree with many folks that his weight may be impacting his timing and ability on the mound with the addition of the pitch clock. Lately, there have been videos of Manoah working out this offseason and being in good spirits, so that’s a plus for fans and the team. But the issues around his physical appearance can be dealt with a little easier than anything going on in his head.

Closing Thoughts

I have been a Manoah supporter since he was drafted by the Blue Jays, and I want nothing more than to see him bounce back hard in 2024 and shut his haters up. Speaking from a realistic point of view, I think he can bounce back to a certain extent, maybe improving his ERA to 4-ish or slightly above. I don’t think he will have the same significant bounce back season that Jose Berrios had for us this year, but I definitely think an improvement is coming. The front office should be more concerned about adding bats to the lineup rather than trading Manoah for next to nothing and shattering his confidence even further. I hope that he can work with Pete Walker and the support staff to steady his sights a little bit this year, and maybe we can see some of that Audi sign confidence return as Opening Day 2024 comes around in the spring. Let me know your thoughts down below!