by TORONTO – The Toronto Blue Jays acquired underperforming outfielder Myles Straw and $2 million in international signing bonus pools from the Cleveland Guardians in a trade on Friday.
Toronto could have used the money to pursue Roki Sasaki, but hours later the award-winning Japanese pitcher announced in an Instagram post that he intended to sign with the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
Cleveland will send $3.75 million to the Blue Jays, offsetting a portion of the $14.75 million. Straw is guaranteed for the final two years of a five-year, $25 million contract. The Guardians receive a named player or cash.
Toronto increased its international signing pool to $8,261,600 and had not signed a player since the 2025 window opened on Wednesday, leaving the entire amount available for Sasaki.
But the 23-year-old right-hander on Friday night spurned the Blue Jays and San Diego Padres, who were reportedly the other two finalists to sign him.
Sasaki had until next Thursday to reach an agreement with a Major League Baseball team. He is considered an international amateur in the MLB and can only sign a minor league contract, subject to the same bonus pools as Latin American prospects.
The Los Angeles pool ranked 29th among the 30 teams with $5,146,200, ahead of only the Guardians’ pool with $4,908,600 after the trade. San Diego was at $6,261,000.
The Dodgers and Blue Jays had signed no international amateurs and the Padres had signed only three, each for a $10,000 bonus. Only bonuses over $10,000 count towards the pool.
Straw has salaries of $6 million this year and $7 million in 2026 and has a guaranteed buyout option with the team in 2027 worth $1.75 million. Cleveland will send Toronto $1 million this year, $1 million in 2026 and $1.75 million at the end of 2026.
Cleveland agreed to the long-term deal in April 2022, but Straw hit just .221 that year, with no homers, 32 RBIs and 21 stolen bases, and then batted .238 with one homer, 29 RBIs and 20 steals in 2023.
He was sent straight to Triple-A Columbus last April and posted a .240 batting average with three home runs, 47 RBIs and 30 steals. Cleveland acquired him in September and he went 1-for-4 in seven games.
