'It Wasn't An Easy Conversation': Blue Jays Demote Alek Manoah

After another disastrous outing, Alek Manoah has been demoted to the Florida Complex League.

© Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

TORONTO – It finally happened. The Blue Jays have optioned Alek Manoah to the minors.

Manoah didn't receive the customary demotion after his catastrophic six-run performance on Monday, which caused his ERA to rise to 6.36. The 25-year-old will instead shuttle to Dunedin, Florida, where he’ll technically be placed on the Florida Complex League roster.

The FCL is a rookie-level league (lower than Single-A) typically reserved for the greenest prospects and incoming draftees. 

Manager John Schneider and pitching coach Pete Walker informed Manoah of the decision Tuesday morning.

"[Manoah was] upset because of the competitor that he is, obviously," Schneider said. "He defaults to not putting his team in a position to win. That’s how he always feels. So, it wasn't an easy conversation. He understands that the performance hasn't really been there."

So, what’s next for Manoah? He’ll begin with an evaluation at the Blue Jays’ Dunedin Complex, likely in the club’s expensive pitching lab, where staff will make sure his delivery is sound. The Blue Jays wanted Manoah to take a breather and reset himself without the stress of having to make his next start on Saturday. The trip to Florida instead of Buffalo, for example, offers a controlled environment for him to build back up.

Manoah’s timeline is fluid, per Schneider. The right-hander isn’t even guaranteed to pitch in Complex League games, as Schneider said the next steps will be determined after Manoah settles into Dunedin.

"I think whenever he's ready is when he's ready," the Blue Jays skipper said.

As broken as Manoah looked in his last outing, this Blue Jays club still needs him. The trip to Florida is no rehab vacation; these are urgent times for the former AL Cy Young finalist.

"That’s what drives him," Schneider said, referencing how badly the Jays need their ace back. "That's what makes him great. [We] fully expect him to tackle this head-on like he does everything else."

In the meantime, the Blue Jays have a rotation spot to fill. The club selected Bowden Francis, who appeared in the Rogers Centre clubhouse Tuesday with a big grin on his face. Thanks to limited upper-minors pitching depth, the 27-year-old was the easy choice for a call-up. Francis had a 3.45 ERA through 15.2 Triple-A innings, and he’ll factor into Saturday’s game, either as a starter or bulk reliever.

"If we need [Francis] in the next four days, [we’ll] use him appropriately with the goal of probably making sure he's pretty available for Saturday," said Schneider.

This has been a disaster for the Jays, who, apart from Manoah, boast one of MLB’s best rotations. Obviously, optioning Manoah was a last resort, but it was the most forceful of several unsavory choices. Now, the Blue Jays will provide the resources, and it’ll be up to Manoah to trek his way back to The Show.