Toronto Baseball Insider has no direct affiliation to the Toronto Blue Jays or MLB
The Toronto Blue Jays have a serious problem with Alek Manoah
The Toronto Blue Jays are hoping to get pitcher Alek Manoah back in a few weeks but this could cause them some issues for the trade deadline.
The Blue Jays seem to have some big plans for the trade deadline, one of the biggest pieces they are looking to add is a starting pitcher as they have been linked to a bunch of them including Luis Severino.
Blue Jays pitcher Alek Manoah returning could cause the Blue Jays some problems
The Blue Jays are expected to get Manoah back at the start of August and while fans are excited to see him back on the mound, hoping that he has returned to the pitcher he was in 2022, there are some problems that could come with it.
Many are worried that the Blue Jays might see Manoah as a solution to their current starting rotation problems and if that is the case, the might not end up grabbing a starting pitcher at the trade deadline.
Manoah should get built up like a starter, especially so he can contribute in 2026. So to stay built up, he should become a long reliever for the team in the playoff hunt.
When Toronto adds a starter at the deadline, Manoah and Eric Lauer should move to the bullpen as long relievers. They have to do this to open a spot in the rotation anyways, but the point is that Manoah cannot be their answer in the rotation. -Dionis
When Toronto adds a starter at the deadline, Manoah and Eric Lauer should move to the bullpen as long relievers. They have to do this to open a spot in the rotation anyways, but the point is that Manoah cannot be their answer in the rotation. -Dionis
There has been talk on Manoah coming back as a long reliever along with Eric Lauer so that they keep a spot open in the rotation for a newly acquiring pitcher at the trade deadline.
The reason Manoah cannot be looked at as the solution right now is because he has not pitcher in a game in over a year and over the last few years he has really struggled.
If the seem Manoah as the solution and he comes back as the same pitcher he was in 2023 and 2024, the Blue Jays will have missed the trade deadline and will be stuck with problems in their starting rotation.
Manoah has had some ace flashes in his career, but he is just too inconsistent to be relied upon in the stretch run this season, especially following surgery. -Dionis
Having Manoah back will be great for the Blue Jays but they need to use him in the right setting.
Source: Jays Journal
Potential return shouldn't change Blue Jays' trade deadline plans
Potential return shouldn't change Blue Jays' trade deadline plans
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 11 | 1418 ANSWERS The Toronto Blue Jays have a serious problem with Alek Manoah Should the Blue Jays put Alek Manoah is the bullpen to start? | ||
| Yes | 1097 | 77.4 % |
| No | 321 | 22.6 % |
| List of polls | ||