Alek Manoah drops bizarre egotistical comment on Blue Jays World Series run

The story of Alek Manoah will forever be discussed among Toronto Blue Jays fans. A once-promising player for the franchise, Manoah suffered enough injuries that eventually led the team to part ways with him.

Although Toronto moved on, Manoah found a new home with the Los Angeles Angels. There, he signed a one-year, $1.95 million deal in the hopes of revitalizing his career. However, as he's ready to turn the page, Manoah spoke with the media about his time in Toronto, and his statement may turn some heads.

A big piece of the World Series Run?

The Athletic's Sam Blum spoke with Manoah outside the Angels' Arizona clubhouse, where he interviewed LA's newest member regarding his baseball future. Naturally, Manoah stated he's ready to turn the page, is optimistic about 2026, and overcome his "down year" in 2023.

The conversation then shifted to the 2025 Blue Jays and their World Series. As Manoah reiterated, he wanted Toronto to win it all and cheered on those he calls his brothers. His next quote after that is what puzzled fans north of the border and left more questions than answers. “I was a very big piece of that process, getting to that World Series run. I wasn’t able to be there like I wanted to," he said.

For context, Manoah made his last appearance in a Blue Jays uniform on May 29, 2024, where he exited the game in the second inning after feeling discomfort in his right elbow. Soon after, Manoah underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery, marking the end of his time in Toronto. In other words, where does Manoah come into play regarding 2025?

Now, this ultimately comes down to what the definition of "process" really is. If you're referring to Manoah being part of the rebuild during his Toronto tenure, then the quote isn't entirely out of place. Manoah was expected to be a cornerstone and had the numbers to back it up. In 2022, Manoah was selected for his first All-Star game and finished third in Cy Young voting. He posted a 16-7 record with a 2.24 ERA and 180 strikeouts.

The Blue Jays would get a playoff spot that same year, but Manoah was hooked with the loss after giving up four earned runs in Game 1 before they were swept by the Seattle Mariners. The following year, Manoah never got an opportunity to pitch after the Blue Jays were swept by the Minnesota Twins. Before 2025, the Blue Jays were unlucky in the postseason, which included Manoah.

If you shift the focus of the quote to 2025 alone, then it becomes uncalled for, which it still is anyway. Manoah was designated for assignment on September 23 after being activated from the 60-day injured list on September 11 and optioned to Triple-A Buffalo. He never saw time with the big league club in 2025 and was claimed off waivers by the Atlanta Braves.

In other words, there was no contribution from Manoah for the Toronto Blue Jays en route to the World Series. If anything, the Blue Jays overcame their miserable April with the roster on the field, which in part pushed them to October baseball. Where does Manoah fit in that conversation? He doesn't.

Is there an opportunity for a bounce-back for Manoah? Absolutely, especially with his numbers from Triple-A Buffalo last September, posting a 2.97 ERA in seven games. While the initial release was shocking, the likes of Trey Yesavage showed enough promise not to be ignored. There is a lot to prove to see if Manoah can restore his 2022 self and overcome the injury issues he had. A fresh start may be what Manoah needs.

At the end of the day, the 2025 Toronto Blue Jays made it to the World Series without Alek Manoah, and it's best he looks ahead to 2026 with the Los Angeles Angels.