Could Alek Manoah Be the Cubs’ Next Reclamation Project? There’s Upside Worth Exploring

The Cubs have made a habit out of diving into the reclamation market every winter-polishing up pitchers who’ve lost their way and seeing if there’s magic left in the arm. That trend could continue, because one of the most intriguing arms in baseball-former Cy Young finalist Alek Manoah-is now on the waiver wire.

The Blue Jays designated Manoah for assignment on Tuesday after activating Anthony Santander from the 60-day IL. That means the right-hander, once seen as a future ace, is now up for grabs. And for a team like the Cubs, who value upside and have quietly built a reputation for taking calculated risks on struggling arms, this could be a move worth watching.

From Cy Young Contender to DFA: What Happened?

Let’s rewind to 2022. Manoah was electric that year, a rising star in the AL with a bulldog mentality on the mound and numbers to back it up.

Over 31 starts, he posted a 2.24 ERA over 196.1 innings, racking up 180 strikeouts. That performance earned him third place in AL Cy Young voting and stamped his name among the league’s elite.

But what followed was a stunning and somewhat complex fall from grace.

2023 was a grind. A 5.87 ERA over 19 starts and a summer demotion all the way down to the rookie complex league painted a picture of a pitcher completely out of sync-mechanics, confidence, maybe both. Toronto hoped it was fixable, a rough patch in an otherwise promising trajectory.

By early 2024, Manoah looked like he might be finding his groove again, posting a 3.70 ERA in his first five starts before a shoulder injury shut him down. He didn’t see the big-league mound again this season.

Still, there’s a flicker of hope. As Manoah rehabbed and ramped back up, he made seven starts for Triple-A Buffalo, pitching to a strong 2.97 ERA-solid numbers that offer at least some optimism he’s turning a corner.

Why the Cubs Could-and Maybe Should-Be Interested

Let’s be real: Alek Manoah today is not the guy who carved up Major League lineups two years ago. But he’s also just 27, with a 6-foot-6 frame, a durable build (outside of the 2024 shoulder issue), and a competitive edge that never really seemed to waver-even during the worst of his struggles.

From a Cubs’ perspective, there are several layers of intrigue here.

First, he comes with team control through the 2027 season. That’s massive if he rebounds. He made $2.2 million this year-likely the same number he’ll be at for 2026-which is a bargain if he turns back into even a mid-rotation arm, let alone the front-end starter version we saw in 2022.

Second, he fits the mold. The Cubs have been aggressive, even quietly strategic, in recent years when it comes to these types of roll-the-dice pitchers. Think of this like a lower-risk version of some past fliers-guys who needed a change of scenery, a new voice, maybe a different system.

They’re not committing big money here. If it works, they’ve got control of a potentially high-impact starter. If it doesn’t, they can move on-as Toronto just did-without any real harm done to their financial or roster flexibility.

The Path Forward

Manoah will hit waivers this week, and there’s no guarantee the Cubs-or anyone else-throw a claim in. But the combination of age, pedigree, and cost control is going to turn some heads around front offices. He hasn’t pitched in the majors since that brief 2024 stint, but it’s the track record and the hint of return-to-form at Triple-A that make him a compelling option.

This isn’t a move that fixes Chicago’s rotation-or even clearly fits into their plans for Opening Day 2026-but it’s the kind of smart, forward-thinking gamble that could quietly pay off.

And don’t forget: the Cubs have the infrastructure now. From pitching coach Tommy Hottovy to their revamped player development staff, they’ve shown an ability to build pitchers back up.

If they believe there’s still something in Manoah’s tank-and he’s healthy-this might be one of the more underrated offseason moves they’ll have a shot at.

In short: it’s not a must-make move. But it is a classic Cubs-type move. And the upside, however distant it might seem right now, is very real.