The Blue Jays have declined Myles Straw's $8 million club option, making the popular outfielder a free agent. The door to a reunion, though, isn't closed.

Straw will collect a $1.75 million buyout. The decision came Monday, ahead of the 5 p.m. ET opening of free agency.

He's been open about how much he's enjoyed his time in Toronto. After two seasons, he also has plenty of supporters within the organization.

The expectation is that both sides will stay in touch. That leaves room for a cheaper deal down the road.

The production made the call easier. He hit .241 with a 78 OPS+ over 295 at-bats in 2026, a step back from his 1.8 fWAR season the year before.

So why would Toronto want him back? Because his value was never only about the bat.

Myles Straw's speed and glove still fit Toronto's bench

He finished strong, with a .410 on-base percentage over his final 30 games. He was also the fastest player on a team that ranked 26th in sprint speed.

His versatility was a lifeline during an injury-wrecked season. He covered all three outfield spots, filled in on the infield and even took the mound.

The clubhouse will miss him if he leaves. The Athletic's Mitch Bannon called him “maybe the best clubhouse guy on the team.”

Toronto also needs right-handed bench options, and Straw fits that description.

Declining the option was the right call. Now the Jays need to follow through and bring him back at a sensible price before someone else does.

That someone could be in the AL East. YanksGoYard's Stephen Parello recently urged the Yankees to target him if he hit the market.

Letting him test free agency is like listing a beloved house just to see what it's worth. Fine, as long as you're ready to make the winning bid yourself.

Straw arrived in January 2025 as a consolation prize from the Roki Sasaki chase. If Ross Atkins lets him walk now, Toronto might lose a lot more than a fifth outfielder.