MLB Rumors: What in the world is going on with Alek Manoah and the Toronto Blue Jays?
It's been a forgettable 2023 season for Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Alek Manoah. The team's former ace has fallen from grace, to say the least, with his latest downfall an assignment to Triple-A Buffalo which went awry. Per a report from SportsNet, Manoah has failed to report to the team, going weeks between outings. Manoah is also occupying a place on the Buffalo pitching staff that could go to a more worthy player.
The Blue Jays have shut down Manoah for the rest of the season, but his failure to take any sort of assignment seriously -- even in the minor leagues -- doesn't reflect well on his attitude.
Manoah still has four seasons of arbitration left on his current contract, so he isn't going anywhere barring an unforeseen trade. The right-hander has met with medical specialists over the last few weeks to determine the severity of injuries to his knee, back, and right quad. There appeared to be no structural damage. Manoah's physical issues have forced him to prioritize rest, rather than throwing off a mound in preparation for a Jays postseason run.
The 25-year-old last pitched in the majors on Aug. 10 against the Guardians, when he allowed four runs. His demotion to the minor leagues has not gone smoothly, and Manoah surely will have to answer to those rumors eventually.
MLB Rumors: Will the Angels actually consider trading Mike Trout? And where?
As FanSided MLB Insider Robert Murray noted in his Monday column, any trade of Mike Trout remains unlikely for several reasons, starting with owner Arte Moreno.
First, Moreno famously hates rebuilding, for better or worse. While the Angels could very well lose Shohei Ohtani this offseason, they will not voluntarily part ways with Trout unless he forces his way out. And on that note, Trout is as loyal as they come. He signed a contract through the 2030 season for a reason, and he plans on honoring that, per Murray:
"Trout is extremely loyal. He signed a 12-year, $426.5 million contract through the 2030 season with the vision of retiring with the Angels. He wanted to be in Anaheim, and all indications are that he wants to remain with the franchise."
Murray also stated that trading a contract that big would come with some complications. Any team interested in Trout would have to take on the remainder of his deal, which is significant. Add in his recent injury issues, and Trout's value may not be as high as it should be. If the Angels were to deal their franchise icon, they should do so when his value is highest, not lowest.
However, IF Trout were to force his way out (which goes against his character), a move to the Phillies makes the most sense, as Murray notes:
"Trout also holds leverage on any potential destination with the no-trade clause. He can dictate where he wants to be traded if he indeed wants to be traded. The obvious potential destination would be the Philadelphia Phillies; he grew up in the area and has Eagles season tickets. But the Phillies already have a bloated payroll and while team owner John Middleton has indicated that he wants to compete and will spend whatever it takes to make that happen, a Trout trade could prove too challenging."
Murray graded this fit as unlikely, as it would be with any team until Moreno or Trout says otherwise.
MLB Rumors: Former Cardinals star flip flops on coaching
While FanSided's Josh Wilson initially mentioned Matt Holliday as a possible Oli Marmol replacement should the Cardinals wish to pursue that route, it should be noted that the former is now open to coaching again. Holliday, who served as Cards bench coach for just two months before leaving the organization, is coaching at Oregon State.
Holliday's two sons seem set for MLB stardom, with Jackson Holliday being the top prospect in the Orioles organization and his youngest son, Ethan, in the class of 2025. It's unclear if Ethan intends on going straight into the MLB Draft after high school, or if he'll attend Oregon State or another college. That could potentially determine his father's fate, as Holliday would surely want to coach his son if given the opportunity.
It was reported by Bob Nightengale on Sunday that Holliday had a change of heart about managing someday:
"While former All-Star outfielder Matt Holliday changed his mind this spring and told the St. Lous Cardinals he no longer wanted to be their bench coach, he is now telling friends that he is interested in becoming a major-league manager in the next few years," Nightengale wrote.
With the entire Holliday family soon to be MLB bound, one has to wonder if the Cardinals are the best fit. Hopefully for Marmol's sake, this former Cards star finds a home elsewhere.
