Blue Jays decline Myles Straw's $8-million club option for 2027

The Toronto Blue Jays announced on Monday that they have declined outfielder Myles Straw's $8-million club option for the 2027 season. The decision makes the 32-year-old a free agent.

Contract Details and Financials

According to Sportsnet's Shi Davidi, the Cleveland Guardians will cover the $1.75 million contract buyout for Straw's deal as part of the trade that brought him to the Blue Jays two years ago. Because the Guardians are covering the buyout, the decision to decline the option will not cost the Blue Jays anything, according to blogTO.

Straw was originally acquired by the Blue Jays on January 17, 2025, alongside international bonus pool space. His contract included team options for 2027 and 2028 that allowed the Blue Jays to decide whether to retain him.

Performance and Statistics

During his two seasons with the Blue Jays, Straw appeared in 283 of 324 games. Over that span, he batted .251 with seven home runs and 58 RBIs.

In the 2026 season, Straw appeared in 147 games and recorded the following statistics:

• Batting average: .241
• Home runs: 3
• RBIs: 26
• On-base percentage: .304
• Stolen bases: 7 in 9 attempts

While Straw's defensive metrics remained strong, his advanced defensive stats saw a decline from 2025. In 2026, he turned in a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in the outfield, two Defensive Runs Saved, four Outs Above Replacement, and a Fielding Run Value of three. He finished the 2026 season tied for the MLB lead with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage among outfielders. He previously won a Gold Glove award in the outfield in 2022.

His offensive performance in 2026 saw a slump during the summer, with a .200 average in May, a .217 average in June, and a .162 average in July. Following the trade of Daulton Varsho, Straw recorded a slash line of .277/.348/.387 with 11 doubles across 134 plate appearances.

In 2025, Straw batted .262 with four home runs, 32 RBIs, and a .313 on-base percentage. He appeared in 18 playoff games during the Blue Jays' 2025 World Series run, though he received only 18 at-bats as he was mostly used as a defensive replacement.

Future Outlook

There is a possibility of a reunion between Straw and the Blue Jays. According to Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith, Straw enjoys playing in Toronto and the Blue Jays will need right-handed bench options.

However, the Blue Jays' offense finished the previous season with the fewest runs and home runs across Major League Baseball. The team may look to other options, such as Japanese outfielder Seiya Suzuki, who hit 26 home runs last season for the Chicago Cubs. Acquiring Suzuki would address the team's goal of expanding its presence in Japan. Other players currently in the Blue Jays' fold include Brett Bateman, Addison Barger, Nathan Lukes, and Anthony Santander.

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Sources

• sportsnet.ca: Blue Jays decline Myles Straw's 2027 club option - Sportsnet.ca
• blogto.com: Toronto Blue Jays cut Myles Straw loose
• bluejaysnation.com: Blue Jays decline Myles Straw’s 2027 club option making him a free agent

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.