Blue Jays & Guardians Complete Trade; Could Impact Sasaki Decision

In a very eye-opening move Friday morning, the Toronto Blue Jays swung a deal with the Cleveland Guardians that gets them $2 million in additional international bonus signing pool space.

The Blue Jays have acquired Myles Straw, cash, and international cap space from the Guardians in exchange for a player to be named later or cash 🔄 pic.twitter.com/SL9zHo3gL3
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 17, 2025

The unsurprising part of this trade is that the Jays have acquired yet another offensively-challenged 'run prevention' piece in defensive outfielder Myles Straw. He owns plenty of speed and has a Gold Glove, earned in 2022.

But the intriguing part of this move is the acquisition of more international cap space for the Jays. They are, of course, one of the three finalists in the running to sign Japanese pitching sensation Roki Sasaki. He is part of the international pool and will be paid out of that money. The Jays now have over $3 million more to offer Sasaki out of their international pool cap than the LA Dodgers.

Addition of $2M in int’l bonus pool space increases Blue Jays’ total to $8.26M as Sasaki decision looms. Can still add more, up to slightly more than $10M. Teams allowed to increase pool by 60 percent. https://t.co/zhL1tMQEuF
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 17, 2025

Jays Insider Ben Nicholson-Smith, however, warns that "To be clear, this does not mean that Roki Sasaki has made up his mind or given the Blue Jays any indication as to his choice."

Straw should fit right in on the Jays, as an all-defense, no-offense kind of guy. But in addition to his speed and defense, he is perhaps best known for trashing Yankee Stadium fans after a clash during a game in 2022.

Myles Straw is one of us pic.twitter.com/hBnephRNXd
— Gate 14 Podcast (@Gate14Pod) January 17, 2025

Straw called the Bronx denizens "Classless. The worst fanbase on the planet."

Cleveland, meanwhile, is happy to get out from under the almost $14M he's owed over the next two seasons. Straw spent the entire 2024 season in the minors after hitting .238 in the 2023 season with a .301 on-base pct., a .597 OPS and a 67 OPS+.