Yankees ace Gerrit Cole is on a roll this year putting a strong claim for the Cy Young Award. However, his nemesis, Alek Manoah, who once slammed Gerrit Cole as a cheater has a career traversing in the opposite direction.
It seems that Alek Manoah, the starting pitcher for the Blue Jays who has been a persistent challenge for the Yankees, is signaling the end of his participation in the 2023 season. Also, his future MLB career is uncertain.
Gerrit Cole’s nemesis Manoah is facing troubles
Alek Manoah, who was a finalist for the Cy Young Award in 2022, was last seen in action on August 10 when he faced the Cleveland Guardians. During that game, he pitched four innings, conceding four runs and marking his ninth loss of the season.
Following that performance, he was sent down to Triple-A Buffalo. However, as reported by Blue Jays radio announcer Ben Wagner, Alek Manoah did not report to the team for a period of two weeks.
During an appearance on the “Blair and Barker” show on SportsNet 590 The Fan, Wagner mentioned that Alek Manoah won’t be in a position to regain his form and contribute to the major league team in any role at this juncture. In Triple-A, he was occupying a roster spot on a pitching staff and bullpen that were already significantly understaffed. Consequently, the team had to take action, and placing him on the temporary inactive list was the necessary step on paper to facilitate the balancing of the Buffalo roster.
The 2023 season was marred by difficulties
Alek Manoah’s season has been plagued by difficulties right from the beginning. In his initial 13 starts, he managed only one win while accumulating a troubling 6.36 ERA. This performance led to a month-long assignment in the minor leagues, during which he seemed to make some improvements.
However, his recent actions may not only erode the trust and support of the Blue Jays organization but also potentially impact his future earnings in his career. He was once trashed by the Yankees minors during his rehab game.
According to Ben Nicholas-Smith of Sportsnet, after undergoing a month of behind-the-scenes efforts, Alek Manoah made his return to the major leagues on July 7, delivering an impressive performance against the Tigers in Detroit. During this period, he had been absent from service, which likely has removed his Super Two eligibility and the opportunity for four rounds of arbitration. Consequently, he hasn’t been receiving big-league compensation or service time for the past month.
Alek Manoah once labeled Yankees ace Gerrit Cole as a cheater. Interestingly, Gerrit Cole currently boasts a stellar record of 13-4, along with an American League-leading 2.79 ERA, and is a strong contender for his first Cy Young Award.
One can only ponder what Gerrit Cole might have to say about Manoah now?
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
