Alek Manoah’s Time with Blue Jays Ends Amid Roster Shakeup

BREAKING: The Toronto Blue Jays have just announced the surprising end of Alek Manoah’s tenure with the team. Manoah, once considered a potential ace, was designated for assignment on September 23, 2025, to make room for veteran slugger Anthony Santander on the 40-man roster.

In a statement made during the seventh inning of the Blue Jays’ 4-1 loss to the Boston Red Sox, general manager Ross Atkins addressed the critical decision, noting, “These are always tough decisions. This just came down to a roster crunch, and I was feeling like this is the best decision for us to hold depth and support for this staff as we push forward in very important weeks.”

Manoah, who has not pitched this season due to recovering from Tommy John surgery in June 2024, leaves behind a complex legacy. The 27-year-old boasts a career record of 29-20 with a 3.34 ERA and 412 strikeouts over four seasons. His promising start included an impressive 16-7 record in 2022 that earned him All-Star recognition and a third-place finish in Cy Young Award voting.

However, after struggling in 2023 with a 3-9 record and a 5.87 ERA, and facing further challenges in 2024, Manoah’s trajectory shifted dramatically. Following surgery, he made seven rehab starts with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, achieving a 2.97 ERA over 33 1/3 innings, striking out 30 batters but allowing six home runs.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider expressed the emotional weight of the decision, saying, “It’s a tough decision, obviously. Alek has been right in the thick of a lot of things that went really well for us.”

The decision comes at a critical time for the Blue Jays, who currently hold a 90-67 record and lead the American League East with just five games left in the regular season. Their magic number to clinch the division title indicates a pressing need for immediate performance as they eye postseason success.

Manoah’s future now hangs in the balance; he can be claimed off waivers by other Major League Baseball teams. Should no team claim him, he has the option to become a free agent. This uncertainty adds to the urgency surrounding the Blue Jays as they make pivotal decisions in the lead-up to the playoffs.

Atkins emphasized the difficulty of the decision, stating, “I don’t think there was really any areas that stood out more than others. It’s really just a tough decision for us that we felt like we had more support from other individuals that were here now, in the short term.”

As the Blue Jays prepare for their next games, all eyes will be on how this roster change impacts their postseason ambitions. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if Manoah can find a new opportunity elsewhere in the league.