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Reliving Myles Straw’s two-year tenure with the Blue Jays
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Photo credit: © Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images
Cynthia Ryley Delaney
Nov 8, 2026, 13:00 ESTUpdated: Nov 8, 2026, 10:06 EST
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The Myles Straw era for the Toronto Blue Jays has come and gone, at least for now.
On Monday, the Blue Jays elected not to take the club option on the outfielder’s contract. It was the right decision, as he was set to make $8 million, while his $1.75 million buyout would’ve been paid by the Guardians.
Eight million is just a bit too hard to justify for a player who lines up as the team’s fifth outfielder, but there’ll surely be interest from both sides to bring him back at a cheaper price point. From all accounts, he’s a big part of the clubhouse and he still provides terrific defence in centre field.
But if it is the end of Straw’s tenure as a Blue Jay, it’s certainly worth looking into his best moments over his two years north of the border

The trade

Coming off a disastrous 2024 season, the Blue Jays were looking to go big game hunting. They had already missed in their pursuit of Juan Soto, but their sights changed to Rōki Sasaki in mid-January.
Unlike most other posted free agents, Sasaki had to be signed through the International Free Agent pathway, meaning any team wanting the right-handed pitcher had to acquire him with their bonus pool money. The Jays had a little over $6.2 million when the period opened on January 15th, but potentially needed more.
On January 17th, the Blue Jays acquired $2 million in bonus pool money from the Cleveland Guardians, but had to absorb Straw’s contract from the small market team. After spending all but seven games in the minors, it was a big ask given Straw was owed 13 million over the next two seasons.
The Blue Jays’ pursuit of Sasaki fell short, as he ended up signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the team the Blue Jays met in the 2025 World Series. Straw was a part of that run, as he made 2025’s Opening Day roster.

Straw’s best moment as a Blue Jay

Throughout his two years as a Blue Jay, Straw’s role was fifth outfielder, with occasional starts with a left-handed pitcher on the mound. On August 18th, 2026, the Blue Jays faced then Texas Ranger southpaw, Patrick Corbin.
Up to this point in his career, Straw hit just 10 home runs in 2,230 plate appearances. But in that game against the Rangers, Straw looked like a prime Babe Ruth.
His first plate appearance against Corbin came in the bottom of the second, with the Jays already up 1-0. With runners on second and third and one out, Straw hit a 0-1 pitch over the left field wall to put the Blue Jays up 5-0.
In the following inning, Straw hit a 2-0 pitch off righty Jon Gray to deep left field, going deep for the second time to put two more runs on the board and giving the Jays an 8-1 lead. It was the first and only time Straw has had a multi-home run game.
But it wasn’t just the home runs. In what turned out to be a 14-2 decimation, Straw hit a single in his next plate appearance and came in to score. The Rangers finally got Straw out in his next at-bat, but Straw notched his fourth hit of the game in the bottom of the eighth, hitting a single off former Blue Jay Rowdy Tellez.
While it was his first multi-home run game of his career, it was Straw’s fourth four-hit game, his first since early in the 2022 season with the Guardians.
Every little win mattered for the Blue Jays. Because despite a five-game lead over the New York Yankees following the 14-2 victory, they ended up needing a four-game winning streak and a tiebreaker to clinch the division on the final game of the season. Straw drove in a run in that final game, giving the Jays a bye to the American League Divisional Series.

The playoff run

I’ve written about my experience with the 2025 playoffs a whole bunch. From the heartbreak of how it ended, to being there to witness George Springer’s Game 7 home run, a moment that will go down as one of the best in my life.
Before their trip to the American League Championship Series, the Blue Jays hosted the Yankees in the ALDS. I happened to attend both the games in Toronto, well worth it.
That series, specifically the first two games, had plenty of moments as well. From Game 1, you have Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Alejandro Kirk’s first postseason home runs. There was also Kevin Gausman leaving the bases loaded in the top of the sixth in a 2-1 game, opening the door for the Blue Jays to score eight over the final two innings. 
I made an impulse decision that night to purchase a ticket for Game 2, and that one turned out to be even more memorable. That game featured Ernie Clement’s two-run home run, Guerrero Jr.’s grand slam, and Trey Yesavage throwing five and one-third hitless innings in just his fourth big league start.
When thinking about the 2025 postseason runs, these two games are overshadowed by the Springer home run. What will always be unforgettable for me is whenever Straw stepped up to the plate in the two games against the Yankees.
Whenever Straw batted, it was a celebratory mood as the Jays tended to be up big. Everyone in the stadium was singing his walk-up song, The Killers “Mr. Brightside.” Whenever I hear that song, I think of the 2025 postseason.
Straw only started nine of the 18 playoff games, and only had three or more plate appearances in two of them, Game 2 of the ALDS and Game 3 of the World Series, the 18-inning game. He only notched two hits, one in Game 1 of the ALDS, and the other in the decisive Game 4 of the ALDS.
That final hit came with a runner on third on a 0-2 pitch in the top of the eighth, making it a 5-1 game. In the following inning, the Yankees loaded the bases with two outs, but Jeff Hoffman stranded them with a flyout. The Yankees added a run in the bottom of the ninth, and even brought what would’ve been the game-tying run to the plate had Straw not driven in that run. It was a crucial insurance run for the Jays.

The end

Straw has never particularly been a good hitter, but even by his standards, he was struggling come the trade deadline. From the beginning of the season until August 2nd, the day before the trade deadline, Straw was slashing just .216/.273/.313 with three home runs in 196 plate appearances, giving him a 64 wRC+.
He had his moments up to that point. What comes to mind is a three-hit game against the Philadelphia Phillies on June 10th, a three-run home run on Canada Day, a three-RBI game against the Atlanta Braves.
There was also his 14-pitch at bat against the Boston Red Sox on June 16th, ending in a fly out to right field that moved the runner 90 feet. The following batter drove in that run, leading to a 6-1 Blue Jays victory. to move a runner 90 feet on June 16th against the Boston Red Sox.
On August 3rd, the Blue Jays sent Daulton Varsho to the Houston Astros, the same team the Jays were set to face to begin that week. With increased playing time (in left field with the emergence of Brett Bateman), Straw’s play improved.
Over his final 134 plate appearances, Straw slashed .277/.348/.387 with 11 doubles and a triple, good for a 110 wRC+. Prior to the trade deadline, Straw had just eight multi-hit games, but down the stretch, he had 11 multi-hit games. Two of those games came in the following two games after the trade.
One of them was on September 4th, a two-hit effort where he drove in and also scored a run. That turned out to be a 9-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals, moving their record to .500. The following day, the Blue Jays defeated the Royals 4-3, moving them into the final wild card spot and over .500 for the first time since early April. Unfortunately, the Blue Jays faltered from there.
Straw also made some incredible plays. The same day of the Varsho trade, Straw robbed Taylor Trammell of an extra-base hit, catching it at the wall. Of course, this play is remembered for Trammell thinking he hit a home run and proceeding to round the bases.
A few days later, the Blue Jays had a single game in North Side Chicago. They went 1-19 with runners in scoring position, it was a terrible game, but the Jays made two game-saving plays in extra innings. In the 10th, Clement made an outstanding catch to end the inning. The following inning, Pete Crow-Armstrong hit a single to Straw in centre field, but Straw was able to throw him out to keep the game alive, albeit briefly.
You can find strong defensive plays by Straw over the final two months of the season. At the end of the day, Straw was a glove first player who could give solid at-bats despite limited power in the bat. More importantly, he was a key presence in the locker room, something the Jays could end up missing next season if they don’t re-sign him.
Cynthia Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, DFOEdmonton, and DFOCalgary. She can be followed on Twitter @CynthiaRDelaney.
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