{"id":98579,"date":"2025-09-25T16:50:28","date_gmt":"2025-09-25T16:50:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=98579"},"modified":"2025-09-25T16:50:28","modified_gmt":"2025-09-25T16:50:28","slug":"cubs-eye-former-cy-young-finalist-after-shocking-dfa-move","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=98579","title":{"rendered":"Cubs Eye Former Cy Young Finalist After Shocking DFA Move"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

IMAGE: Apr 24, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs helmets sit on the field before a baseball game between the Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images \/ Imagn Images<\/div>\n

Could Alek Manoah Be the Cubs\u2019 Next Reclamation Project? There’s Upside Worth Exploring<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Cubs have made a habit out of diving into the reclamation market every winter-polishing up pitchers who\u2019ve 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

From Cy Young Contender to DFA: What Happened?<\/h3>\n

Let\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s elite.<\/p>\n

But what followed was a stunning and somewhat complex fall from grace.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019t see the big-league mound again this season.<\/p>\n

Still, there\u2019s 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\u2019s turning a corner.<\/p>\n

Why the Cubs Could-and Maybe Should-Be Interested<\/h3>\n

Let\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

From a Cubs\u2019 perspective, there are several layers of intrigue here.<\/p>\n

First, he comes with team control through the 2027 season. That\u2019s massive if he rebounds. He made $2.2 million this year-likely the same number he\u2019ll 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

They\u2019re not committing big money here. If it works, they\u2019ve got control of a potentially high-impact starter. If it doesn\u2019t, they can move on-as Toronto just did-without any real harm done to their financial or roster flexibility.<\/p>\n

The Path Forward<\/h3>\n

Manoah will hit waivers this week, and there\u2019s 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\u2019t pitched in the majors since that brief 2024 stint, but it\u2019s the track record and the hint of return-to-form at Triple-A that make him a compelling option.<\/p>\n

This isn\u2019t a move that fixes Chicago\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

And don\u2019t forget: the Cubs have the infrastructure now. From pitching coach Tommy Hottovy to their revamped player development staff, they\u2019ve shown an ability to build pitchers back up.<\/p>\n

If they believe there\u2019s still something in Manoah\u2019s tank-and he\u2019s healthy-this might be one of the more underrated offseason moves they\u2019ll have a shot at.<\/p>\n

In short: it\u2019s not a must-make move. But it is<\/em> a classic Cubs-type move. And the upside, however distant it might seem right now, is very real.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Could Alek Manoah Be the Cubs\u2019 Next Reclamation Project? 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