The Blue Jays are adding another chapter to their book of “almosts” when it comes to signing free agents, as they watched 23-year-old Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki choose the Los Angeles Dodgers as his first MLB home.

This chapter was a little different than the others, as both the Blue Jays and Dodgers made trades on Friday to add to their international bonus pool money. The Dodgers traded away a minor leaguer each to the Reds and the Phillies, but the Blue Jays went the major league route, acquiring centre fielder Myles Straw from the Cleveland Guardians. Along with the international bonus pool money and Straw, the Blue Jays also received $3.75 million to cover some of what is left on Straw’s remaining contract, and the Guardians will receive cash or a PTBNL.

The Blue Jays may have had Straw on their list of desired acquisitions, but this was most likely meant to be the final piece in locking down a deal with Sasaki. The Guardians helped the Blue Jays with their international bonus funds, and the Blue Jays took Straw’s contract off Cleveland’s hands. In theory, it all sounded like a good idea as long as Toronto signed the Japanese right-hander.

Unfortunately, the chips didn’t fall in Toronto’s favour. You hate to say they’re “stuck with” Straw, but he’s part of the organization now, along with the near-$12 million he is still owed by the Blue Jays. Before we dive into where he fits on Toronto’s roster, it’s important to note that Straw was not immediately placed on Toronto’s 40-man roster. His latest transaction on his player page is that he was assigned to Double-A New Hampshire.  However, if the Blue Jays need him at the major league level, they would need to create a spot for him.

MLB Trade Rumors reported that Straw can reject an outright assignment and elect free agency since he has more than three years of service time. Since he doesn’t have five years of service time, though, the remainder of his contract would be diminished should he elect free agency.

That’s an important detail considering that the Blue Jays might need him to open the 2025 season.

Gold Glove winner Daulton Varsho is likely missing the start of the upcoming season after undergoing shoulder surgery last September. Although faltering at the plate in recent seasons, defense is what Straw specializes in the most after moving to a full-time centre-field role in 2021. Straw posted a top 5 finish in Fielding Run Value in 2022 per Baseball Savant, and he also accumulated 27 OAA between ’21 and ’23 per Baseball Savant. Furthermore, he won a Gold Glove in ’22, now increasing Toronto’s odds of winning the third consecutive team Gold Glove. Were the Blue Jays able to land Sasaki, this was part of the “kill two birds with one stone” result they were hoping for, as Straw filling in for Varsho early on is where the most obvious fit was.

If the Blue Jays want to have Straw open the season with the major league team (and no other outfield spot has been addressed via trade or free agency), he would be taking away at-bats from one of Joey Loperfido, Jonatan Clase, and/or Nathan Lukes.

Clase was ranked at the 99th percentile in sprint speed last year, and with a bat that has shown some pop, he’s essentially a cheaper version of Straw with more power. Lukes has had back-to-back prosperous seasons in Buffalo, and he posted a .303/.371/.447 slash line in the 91 plate appearances he had at the end of the 2024 season. In Loperfido’s case, power numbers in the minors over the last couple of seasons have warranted regular at-bats in the majors. All of their offensive profiles project to be worth more than Straw’s, who is slashing .229/.295/.284 with one home run, 61 RBIs, 40 doubles, and six triples over his last three MLB seasons.

This is where absorbing Straw’s contract hurts even more; all three of the aforementioned names are cheaper options that were already on the 40-man roster. The money they owe Straw could’ve been used elsewhere with the team still looking to add pieces, whether that be to their lineup, starting rotation, or even another bullpen arm.

To summarize, Straw does have a fit on Toronto’s roster, although it could be only for a short amount of time.

However, the money owed to him coupled with the options Toronto already has internally make this more of a complicated situation. Either they have him take up a spot on the 40-man, or you’re paying a minor leaguer $12 million over the next two years.

Who knows? Maybe a change of scenery is what Straw needs to increase his production at the plate and soften the blow that Ross Atkins and Co. are taking right now. Regardless, it’s certainly a tough spot to be in all around. There’s no other way to say it.