Blue Jays’ latest decision frees them from one of the biggest mistakes in recent Guardians history

On April 9, 2022, the Guardians inked center fielder Myles Straw to a five-year, $25 million extension. That financial value may not seem like a given the incredible rise in contract values, it didn’t take long for that deal to become an anchor on the penny-pinching Guardians. 

A little less than three years after they signed Straw to a deal, the Blue Jays gave them a lifeline when they expressed a willingness to trade for Straw in exchange for some international pool money. The Guardians jumped at the opportunity to make that trade and put Straw’s onerous contract on Toronto’s books. 

That mistake officially disappeared into the void on Monday when the Blue Jays announced they were declining their $8 million club option on Straw and giving him a $1.75 million buyout. While there was a chance that it seemed like Toronto would pick up that option because of their dire outfield picture, their front office made the (smart) decision to let Straw walk. 

Myles Straw is officially a free agent

It seemed like Straw was destined to lurk in Toronto’s minor league system after they acquired him and his contract, but he made their Opening Day roster in 2025 thanks to some injuries, and he ended up becoming a roster mainstay. Straw made it into 137 games that season and finished the year with 32 RBI, 12 steals and an OPS+ of 86. That may not seem like a ton of offensive production, but it’s a far cry from the 66 OPS+ he posted in his final full season in Cleveland. 

While his 2026 price tag of $8 million was still a lot for a fourth outfielder, his 2025 season showed how his profile could impact winning. 

That went away in 2026, however, as Straw’s offense regressed back to the mean (78 OPS+) which made it harder for Toronto to justify paying that price tag (even if his defense and speed were still top-tier). 

Ironically, the Guardians were still on the hook for part of that price tag, as The Athletic’s Zack Mesiel reported at the beginning of the year that the Guardians were still planning $2.75 million of Straw’s contract for ‘26 — $1 million for the season salary and $1.75 million for the buyout the Blue Jays pulled the trigger on. 

Although Straw’s time in Toronto has come to an end, he should still get some interest from other teams in free agency given they’d likely only need to pay him the veteran minimum if he made their big league roster. 

The Guardians may not have had to pay all of Straw’s salary in the past two seasons, but it’s hard to imagine anyone in Cleveland’s front office was upset to see that contract go away.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow