Blue Jays Acquire Outfielder, Cash, and International Bonus Pool Space in Trade with Guardians

TORONTO, Ontario — The Toronto Blue Jays announced Friday that they have acquired outfielder Myles Straw, cash, and $2 million in 2025 international bonus pool space from the Cleveland Guardians in exchange for a player to be named later or cash. The deal positions the Blue Jays to potentially pursue Japanese pitching sensation Roki Sasaki, who must choose his next club by January 23.

The trade adds $2 million to Toronto’s international bonus pool, bringing their total to $8,261,600. This increase allows the Blue Jays to theoretically offer Sasaki a signing bonus of up to $10,018,560, the maximum allowed under MLB‘s international bonus pool rules. Sasaki, a 23-year-old right-hander from the Chiba Lotte Marines of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), is subject to MLB’s international signing rules due to his age.

“This deal doesn’t mean Sasaki has made a decision,” cautioned Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet. “But it shows the Blue Jays are preparing for the possibility of him choosing Toronto.”

The Guardians will cover $3.75 million of the $15.5 million remaining on Straw’s contract, with $1 million paid in both 2025 and 2026, followed by $1.75 million afterward. Straw, a 30-year-old Gold Glove-winning center fielder, has struggled offensively in recent years, posting a .229/.295/.284 slash line over the past three seasons.

Meanwhile, the San Diego Padres, another finalist for Sasaki, have begun finalizing deals with other international amateurs, signaling they may be out of the running. The Los Angeles Dodgers, the third finalist, have also seen prospects pivot to other teams amid the uncertainty surrounding Sasaki’s decision.

Under MLB’s international bonus pool system, teams are limited in how much they can offer amateur players, with smaller-market clubs receiving slightly larger pools. The Blue Jays’ increased pool space could give them an edge in signing Sasaki, who is widely regarded as a plug-and-play ace with a 2.10 ERA over four NPB seasons.

“If money were his primary motivation, he likely would have stayed in Japan until he turned 25,” said one analyst, referencing Shohei Ohtani‘s $325 million deal with the Dodgers. “Sasaki is presumably choosing his next club based on factors like geography, pitching development, and long-term competitiveness.”

The Blue Jays’ acquisition of Straw, while primarily a financial move, also adds a defensive specialist to their roster. Whether Straw remains with the team or is released remains to be seen, but the trade underscores Toronto’s aggressive approach to the offseason.

As the January 23 deadline for Sasaki’s decision approaches, the baseball world waits to see if the Blue Jays can secure the highly coveted pitcher. If not, the additional pool space could still be used to sign other international prospects or traded later in the offseason.