Blue Jays DFA Alek Manoah, Activate Santander

The Toronto Blue Jays designated Alek Manoah for assignment to clear a 40-man roster spot for the activation of Anthony Santander, a move GM Ross Atkins called a difficult roster-crunch decision. Manoah, a 2022 Cy Young third-place finisher, has struggled since—posting a 5.87 ERA in 2023, making only a handful of 2024 starts before undergoing Tommy John surgery in June and not appearing for Toronto this season. His Triple-A numbers this year were mixed (a 2.97 ERA but a 5.93 FIP) and evaluators noted a drop in fastball velocity, raising doubts about his effectiveness going forward. The DFA places Manoah on waivers; he could be claimed by another club or, if unclaimed, remain in the organization off the 40-man roster, and he still carries two years of arbitration eligibility. Toronto, which has clinched a postseason berth and holds the AL East lead, added Santander—who is on a multi-year deal—to bolster the lineup down the stretch while the timetable for Bo Bichette’s return remains uncertain.