Toronto Blue Jays face tough decision on award-winning outfielder
After the Toronto Blue Jays finished last in the AL East and missed the postseason, there's bound to be some offseason changes coming to the roster.
One of the decisions the front office will have to make involves former Gold Glove-winning outfielder Myles Straw.
Since Toronto acquired Straw in a trade with the Cleveland Guardians ahead of the 2025 season to free up international signing pool space, the 31-year-old outfielder has turned out to be a regular fixture in John Schneider's lineup card.
Straw has played 87.3 per cent of Blue Jays games over the past two seasons, hitting .251 with seven home runs and 58 RBIs.
His biggest contribution comes defensively. Straw tied for the MLB lead with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage among outfielders this season, and the Blue Jays need to decide how much value that brings.
The Blue Jays front office must decide whether to pick up Straw's $8 million club option this offseason or buy him out for no cost and move on.
Straw has been adamant that he wants to stay in Toronto, and recently told Lindsay Dunn of the Nation Network ahead of the final home stand against the Cincinnati Reds that he hoped to remain a Blue Jay.
"This place is amazing. There's no better place to play baseball in my opinion, and I hope I finish my baseball career here," Straw said to Dunn.
Of course, the decision isn't up to him, and the Blue Jays could save $8 million if they choose to decline his option.
Suppose Toronto chooses to decline it. Straw's former team, the Guardians, would have to pay the $1.75 million buyout under the terms of the 2025 trade, meaning it would literally cost the Blue Jays nothing to let him go.
Straw also told Dunn that there hadn't been any conversations during the season about his future with the team.
The ball is now in the front office's yard to decide whether Straw's defence and consistency are worth keeping around for another season or two.
It'll also depend on the Blue Jays' plans for free agency, and whether the team will follow through on the reported plans to pursue Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki.
Suzuki is a power-hitting right-handed bat who could instantly provide the offensive firepower the Blue Jays lacked last season, making it hard to justify keeping Straw around for $8 million.
The deadline for the Blue Jays to make a decision on Straw is just around the corner.
Toronto will have a short window following the 2026 postseason to finalize all club and player options for the 2027 season before free agency opens in November.
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