Toronto Blue Jays make a trade and it could lead to a huge signing
This Toronto Blue Jays brass sure does seem to love defensive talent.
The Blue Jays have traded for centre fielder Myles Straw, cash, and international bonus signing pool space from the Cleveland Guardians. There will either be a player named later or cash going back to the Guardians in return.
The Guardians will also cover $3.75 million of the $15.5 million that is still owed to Straw.
OFFICIAL: We’ve acquired OF Myles Straw, cash, and international bonus signing pool space for the 2025 period from the Guardians in exchange for a player to be named later or cash.
Straw won the Gold Glove Award in 2022. pic.twitter.com/QdhqH8b6ON
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) January 17, 2025
Straw, who can also play shortstop, is an elite talent defensively. He won a Gold Glove in 2022, a season in which he played 152 games with the Guardians.
The issue for Straw has always been his bat. In 562 career MLB games, he’s hit a subpar .244 with six home runs and 125 RBIs. He’s often been used as a defensive substitute and pinch runner throughout his career.
The 30-year-old appeared in just seven games with the Guardians this season, spending the majority of his time with the AAA Columbus Clippers, where he hit .240 through 123 games.
This is the second trade the Blue Jays have made with the Guardians this offseason, as they also acquired former All-Star second baseman Andrés Giménez and right-hand reliever Nick Sandlin just over a month ago. Heading the other way in that deal was Spencer Horowitz and minor-league outfielder Nick Mitchell.
Another big part of today’s trade is the international bonus signing pool space the Blue Jays picked up. Many view this as a move made to sign free agent Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki, who they had an in-person meeting with earlier in the week. The 23-year-old has compiled a 2.10 ERA through four seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Just hours before this deal was announced, reports came out that the Blue Jays are one of two finalists — along with the LA Dodgers — to sign Sasaki. A decision from Sasaki is expected to be announced shortly.
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