The Guardians sent outfielder Myles Straw outright to Triple-A Columbus, according to the MLB.com transaction log. Cleveland successfully ran him through waivers once the offseason got underway, removing him from the 40-man roster.
Straw was a lock to go unclaimed because of his contract. A team would’ve needed to assume the remaining $14.75MM in guaranteed money. Straw has cleared waivers twice this year. Cleveland outrighted him just before Opening Day. He spent almost the entire season in Triple-A. The Guards reselected his contract in mid-September but presumably always planned to take him back off the roster at year’s end.
Cleveland inked Straw to that deal early in the 2022 season. He’d posted a solid year in ’21, hitting .271/.349/.348 while stealing 30 bases and playing plus defense in center field. The Guardians reasoned that his speed and glove gave him a solid floor despite minimal power. His bat completely cratered over the next two seasons. Straw combined for only one home run with a .229/.296/.284 line from 2022-23. He didn’t hit in Triple-A this year, either, running a .240/.321/.329 mark against upper minors pitching.
As a player with less than five years of major league service, Straw would forfeit his contract to test free agency. He’s obviously not going to do that, so the Guards can keep him in Triple-A as a depth option. He only made seven MLB appearances this year, collecting one hit in four at-bats. He stole two bases in as many attempts.
when you have the chance to lock in a guy like myles straw to a five year deal, you simply must do it
It was a perfectly fine extension in theory, it just didn’t work out. That happens sometimes.
He was coming off an ~3 WAR season. Contract covered 1 minimum salary year, his 3 arb years, and then 1 additional year. Plus team options for 2 years after that.
Seemed like a reasonable enough deal at the time – as explained in the article – but ultimately didn’t work out.
I don’t really agree. I think it shows how desperate the Indians/Guardians were fo OF help and Straw’s agent made them pay. Straw hadn’t really proven he was anything other than Oscar Mercado minus power plus defense. Both were half season wonders.
The team had Straw under control for 4 years without the team doing anything, so I don’t see what leverage his agent had to make the team offer this early career contract.
Good point. I just can’t see him getting such a generous contract with such little evidence he’d actually be any good.
My point is, even when he’s had a high BAbip, his other batting metrics (especially Rbat+) are all well below league average. If you can’t get on base, you can’t use the speed. And if the speed doesn’t always turn into good defense you have, Myles Straw.
The astros got away with highway robbery.
Myles straw for Phil Maton and Yanier Diaz.
James Click you are the man for making this trade for the astros. Diaz is an amazing catcher and Maton had a few good years with Houston.
I’m really surprised that Click hasn’t gotten another shot at being a GM honestly.
Acoss – I believe he was in the running for the Red Sox position last year but pulled himself out due to family concerns or something.
The Indians needed a centerfielder and they had C Bo Naylor, a top prospect at AA. Diaz was at Low A ball at the time of the trade. Originally the trade was a win for both teams until Straw stopped hitting. His defense and speed are still great. I was surprised when he didn’t even hit for average at AAA this past season.
I loved Click. He will go down as the only GM to ever be fired for winning a World Series. His strategy of trading 40 man fluff for usable pieces was brilliant. Dana Brown is fine, but he still hasn’t proven himself to be as savvy as Click or Lunhow.
Click turned out to be right about almost everything. Even his drafts were great despite being hamstrung with lost picks due to penalties for the scandal. It’s been basically a disaster since Crane fired him. Meddlesome owners…do they EVER actually cause good things to happen with their franchises?
Crane, Jerry Jones, and Jerry Reinsdorf still live in the illusion that the wealthiest guy in the room is, by default, the smartest despite the fact that the results don’t prove it. They will never learn.
As bad as Crane has been you can’t compare him to Jerry Jones. The Cowboys haven’t been to a Super Bowl in 29 years. I’m guessing you didn’t miss that all in comment Jerry made this year too.
Test
Tickle
Let’s hope Rafaela doesn’t continue to follow in Straw’s footsteps.
Fever,
He has the benefit of still being young, but yeah he’s gotta get on base more if he’s not going to be a power guy…
Outrighted, ironically much like his tenure in the game. “Out, right?” He says sadly to ump
Austin Hedges says hold my beer.
Who’s the easier out? Austin Hedges or Myles Straw?
Must be an issue with…skill?
That’s probably part of it, but with Straw I think it’s a coachability issue. He showed no improvement whatsoever at AAA this year despite facing far inferior pitching. I’m not even sure he could land a spot with an Asian team at this point. He needs to spend the winter at Driveline if he really believes he has a future in MLB.
One more CF on the market
Didn’t actually read the article, eh?
Myles Straw, a.k.a. White Jackie Bradley, Jr.
Not even close 2 very different players
Straw: .244/.316/.308 431 hits 6 homers 125 rbis 89 sb
Bradley: .225/.303/.381 839 hits 109 homers 449 rbis 69 sb
Yeah, I’d take Bradley’s prime over Straw any day.
Sounds like Card’s Siani.
C’mon man, just hit the ball!?
There should be no comma before “either.”
I guess that for Cleveland, this is the last Straw…