The Toronto Blue Jays completed a couple trade with the Cleveland Guardians in the off-season including one that brought outfielder Myles Straw to town.
Straw has been the most recent victim of trade rumors as the trade deadline approaches since the Blue Jays have a surplus of outfielder which is why many see Straw as they most valuable trade asset.
Blue Jays clearly won trade with the Guardians when they acquired Myles Straw
When the Blue Jays acquired Straw, their main focus was the additional international bonus money acquired that they wanted to use on Roki Sasaki but that unfortunately did not work out when he signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
While Straw was just seen as part of the trade as a salary dump, he ended up being a steal for the Blue Jays as he has been a great addition for them so far this season.
However, it's another trade with the Guardians that has quietly paid dividends for the Jays this season. On January 17, the Jays sent cash considerations to the Guardians in exchange for $2 million in 2025 International Free Agency bonus pool money. To make it worth it for the Guardians, they dumped Myles Straw's salary on the Jays. -Delaney
So far this season, Straw currently has a .277 batting average, .311 on base percentage with 1 homerun and 10 RBIs in 101 at bats this season which is quite great for a player no one expected anything from.
Straw has always had a below-average bat, nothing is going to change that. Still, Straw has become a useful player for the Jays, slashing .280/.314/.360 with one home run in 109 plate appearances for a 93 wRC+ and 0.7 fWAR. For context, his career wRC+ sits at 79. -Delaney
On top of that, the Blue Jays acquired an additional $2 million for international free agents signings which they have been using to acquire all sorts of young talent players this season.
When looking at the entire trade, it is hard to see any world where the Guardians won this trade with how much the Blue Jays ended up getting between the money and Straw.