Blue Jays Trade for International Bonus Pool Money (And Myles Straw)

[Davy Andrews]

A few hours after news broke that Roki Sasaki had eliminated the Padres and was choosing between the Blue Jays and the Dodgers, the Blue Jays announced that they had traded for outfielder Myles Straw from the the Guardians in exchange for either cash or a player to be named later. However, Straw wasn't the real headliner, and neither was the cash.

The real headliner was what the Jays got back: $2 million in international bonus pool money, the kind a team could spend on Roki Sasaki. We shouldn't take this as any indication about which way Sasaki is leaning, but it does make it clear that the Blue Jays still think they've got a chance.

As for Straw, he's a very useful player, a Gold Glove outfielder who doesn't hit, so he is certainly capable of sliding right in for Kevin Kiermaier without missing a beat.

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[Pendleton]

2 minutes ago, Davy Andrews said:

A few hours after news broke that Roki Sasaki had eliminated the Padres and was choosing between the Blue Jays and the Dodgers, the Blue Jays announced that they had traded for outfielder Myles Straw from the the Guardians in exchange for either cash or a player to be named later. However, Straw wasn't the real headliner, and neither was the cash.

The real headliner was what the Jays got back: $2 million in international bonus pool money, the kind a team could spend on Roki Sasaki. We shouldn't take this as any indication about which way Sasaki is leaning, but it does make it clear that the Blue Jays still think they've got a chance.

As for Straw, he's a very useful player, a Gold Glove outfielder who doesn't hit, so he is certainly capable of sliding right in for Kevin Kiermaier without missing a beat.

 

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Do you predict Straw will start in CF until Varsho is ready? My gut tells me they'll default to whoever's defense they see grading out the best 

[L54]

I’d like to see what Loperfido can do with that playing time while Varsho is out 

[Davy Andrews]

2 minutes ago, Pendleton said:

 

Do you predict Straw will start in CF until Varsho is ready? My gut tells me they'll default to whoever's defense they see grading out the best 

That wouldn't surprise me. Don't get me wrong, Straw's offense is brutal. It crushed the Guardians in 2023, and he spent almost the entire 2024 season batting .240 in Triple A. However, he'll do in a pinch.

[Spanky99]

5 hours ago, Pendleton said:

 

Do you predict Straw will start in CF until Varsho is ready? My gut tells me they'll default to whoever's defense they see grading out the best 

That's how I see it, mate. There's competition but...