The Yankees are being urged to poach Myles Straw if the Blue Jays decline his $8 million club option. That adds an AL East twist to an already tricky decision.

YanksGoYard's Stephen Parello made the case. He wrote that Straw “could be someone who pops up on the Yankees' radar” if Toronto passes on the option.

Parello also revisited how he arrived. The Jays acquired him with $2 million in international bonus pool money in January 2025, hoping to land Roki Sasaki.

Sasaki went elsewhere. Straw, Parello wrote, became Toronto's “consolation prize.”

He turned into more than that. His defence and versatility made him a valuable piece during an injury-wrecked season.

The bat is the problem. He hit .241 with a 78 OPS+ over 295 at-bats in 2026.

Myles Straw's glove would interest an AL East rival

New York wouldn't want him for his hitting. With just seven homers over his last 250-plus games, it would be strictly about the defence.

He did finish strong, with a .410 on-base percentage over his final 30 games. And The Athletic's Mitch Bannon called him “maybe the best clubhouse guy on the team.”

Should Toronto worry about losing him to New York? A little.

Declining the option is still the right call, but the Jays should try to bring him back at a lower price. Watching him run down balls at Yankee Stadium would sting more than the savings would help.

Declining it without a backup plan is like putting your favourite chair out on the curb. Somebody's going to grab it, and it might be the neighbour you can't stand.

Toronto's outfield is crowded with Nathan Lukes, Brett Bateman, Addison Barger and Anthony Santander. That's why a fifth outfielder at that price is a luxury.

But a cheaper deal keeps a speed-and-defence glue guy in the clubhouse. The Jays ranked 26th in sprint speed, and he was their fastest player.

The option decision is coming soon. If Ross Atkins lets him walk without a plan, he might be handing a defensive upgrade to a division rival.