Headlines

  • Kyle Gibson Announces Retirement
  • Yankees Interested In Mitch Keller
  • Pirates Trade Adam Frazier To Royals
  • Mets, Yankees Among Teams To Show Recent Interest In David Robertson
  • Stuart Sternberg Has Agreed To Sell Rays To Patrick Zalupski, Deal Expected To Be Final By September
  • Nationals Select Eli Willits With First Pick Of 2025 Amateur Draft
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

Remove Ads
  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2025 Trade Deadline Outlook Series
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Blue Jays Acquire Myles Straw, International Bonus Pool Space From Guardians

By Darragh McDonald | January 17, 2025 at 11:45am CDT

The Blue Jays announced that they have acquired outfielder Myles Straw, cash, and some 2025 international bonus pool space from the Guardians, while Cleveland receives a player to be named later or cash in return. Toronto will be receiving $2MM of international pool space, while the team will take on $11MM of the $14.75MM remaining on Straw’s contract through the 2026 season. The Guards will pay the Jays $1MM in 2025, $1MM in 2026, and then $1.75MM at the end of the 2026 season, likely earmarked to cover the $1.75MM buyout of Straw’s $8MM club option for the 2027 season.

With the international pool space, it’s fair to wonder about the Jays and their connection to Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki. He has to choose his next club in less than a week and is subject to the international bonus pool signing rules. It has been reported that the Jays are one of three finalists for his services, alongside the Dodgers and Padres. Nicholson-Smith and Davidi both caution that this deal does not mean Sasaki has made a decision, rather that the Jays are being prepared for the possibility of Sasaki choosing them. It’s possible that the Padres view themselves as now out of the running, as they have reportedly started finalizing deals with other international amateurs, something they had put on hold while waiting for more info.

Unlike most free agents, Sasaki isn’t going to sign with the club that can offer him the most money. Since he is coming over to North America prior to his 25th birthday, having recently turned 23, he is considered an amateur under MLB’s rules. As such, he is subject to the league’s bonus pool system. Under this system, each team gets a set amount of money to spend on international amateurs each year. As laid out by Ben Badler of Baseball America, the 2025 pools are each between $5-8MM. Broadly speaking, the smaller-market clubs get a bit more than the bigger clubs. A club can also lower its pool amount by signing a player that rejected a qualifying offer.

Teams can trade their bonus pool space with each other, in increments of $250K, but a team can’t increase its initial allotment by more than 60%. As such, Sasaki won’t be able to sign for more than a few million bucks. There will also be a posting fee owed to the Chiba Lotte Marines, his Nippon Professional Baseball club, though that will also be minimal. If money were his primary motivation, he likely would stayed in Japan until he turned 25. That’s what Yoshinobu Yamamoto did, which allowed him to secure a $325MM deal from the Dodgers.

Sasaki is therefore presumably choosing his next clubs based on other factors. He and his agent Joel Wolfe have been fairly cagey about what those factors might be, leaving baseball fans to speculate. It has been suggested that geography, a team’s pitching development reputation and/or long-term competitive outlook are possible factors, though those are mostly guesses.

Though money won’t be the main factor, it’s possible that Sasaki and his reps would like a large bonus, simply out of respect and as a reflection of his status. Sasaki is far more coveted than even the top international amateurs from any other year. The vast majority of signees in the pool system are 16-year-olds from Latin America who are years away from contributing and come with the standard uncertainties that are present with even the best prospects. The best of those guys can sometimes get bonuses of $5MM or more. The Mets gave Elian Peña $5MM this week, the top bonus for an international signing of this year so far.

Sasaki, on the other hand, is viewed as a plug-and-play ace. He already has four years of experience in Japan, having posted a 2.10 earned run average in that time. Though he doesn’t have the ability to ask for Yamamoto money, perhaps he and his reps want to at least get to something in the $6-10MM range so that he at least gets the symbolic victory of being the top bonus of his class.

The Jays started with a pool of $6,261,600. The Dodgers had their pool dropped by $1MM for signing Shohei Ohtani, since he rejected a qualifying offer and they were a competitive balance tax payor in 2023, winding up at $5,146,200. Since the Jays are allowed to increase their pool by 60%, they can theoretically get that number as high as $10,018,560. This deal gets them up to $8,261,600.

In a normal year, all 30 MLB clubs would announced most of their signings on the first day of the international signing period on January 15. That’s because most of these bonuses have been negotiated years in advance. However, Sasaki’s presence has thrown a wrench into the normal operation of things. The Jays, Dodgers and Padres have reportedly been holding off on finalizing their international signings as they await Sasaki’s decision. His posting window closes January 23, so resolution will have to come soon. As mentioned, the Padres are reportedly going to start finalizing some of their international agreements. That doesn’t mean they are definitely out on Sasaki but is obviously a different approach to what the Jays are doing now.

Time will tell whether this extra pool space can help the Jays at all in signing Sasaki, but it suggests they still view it as a possibility. If Sasaki ends up signing elsewhere, they could perhaps try to trade some of that pool space later or use it in a different way. The Sasaki situation has also thrown a few other things into disarray, as a few prospects that were committed to the Dodgers ultimately pivoted to sign elsewhere, not wanting to wait around. Darell Morel, Oscar Patiño and Teilon Serrano each walked away from the Dodgers to sign with the Pirates, White Sox and Twins, respectively. As this game of musical chairs plays out, it’s possible that there will be some interesting ways to use pool space, even without Sasaki.

To get that extra pool space, the Jays are taking a dead-money contract off the Guardians’ hands. Straw signed a five-year, $25MM extension with the Guardians in April 2022 that covered the 2022-27 seasons, plus the $8MM club option for 2027 and an $8.5MM club option ($500K buyout) for 2028.

These options are almost sure to be declined since Straw’s performance dropped up almost immediately after he signed the extension. An elite defender and runner, Straw had passable offense for a while but fell off a cliff. Through the end of 2021, he had a .265/.343/.341 batting line and 94 wRC+. But in the past three years, that line has been a dismal .229/.295/.284, which translates to a 67 wRC+. He also hit .240/.321/.329 in Triple-A last year for a wRC+ of 72.

His previous level of offense was still subpar but it made him a useful player when combined with his glovework and baserunning. FanGraphs considered him to be worth 3.0 wins above replacement in 2021, for instance. But the dropoff at the plate made Straw unrosterable, so the Guardians have outrighted him off their 40-man multiple times.

Since Straw has more than three years of service time, he can reject an outright assignment and elect free agency. But since his service clock is still short of five years, heading to the open market would mean forfeiting what’s left of his contract. He wasn’t on their roster at the time of the trade and therefore won’t have a spot with the Jays.

Though it’s mostly a salary dump, it’s possible the Jays could envision a path to Straw helping their big league team. Daulton Varsho is the club’s primary center fielder but he is recovering from shoulder surgery and might miss Opening Day. If that comes to pass, it’s possible Straw could help give the Jays a glove-first cover option until Varsho is ready, perhaps in a fourth outfielder role. Straw’s service time count is currently at four years and 125 days. A new “year” rolls over at 172 days, meaning Straw is 47 shy of the five-year mark. That makes it possible for the Jays to roster Straw for a few weeks and send him back off the roster again, knowing that he will clear waivers and accept an outright assignment.

For the Guardians, this is the second time this offseason that they have dumped a notable contract on the Jays. Just over a month ago, the Guards sent Andrés Giménez and Nick Sandlin to Toronto in exchange for Spencer Horwitz and Nick Mitchell, with Horwitz later flipped to the Pirates. Giménez is still guaranteed $97.5MM over the five years left on his extension.

Between Giménez and Straw, the Guards have sent $113MM of future payroll commitments north of the border. They did lose a useful player in Giménez but likely feel they have plenty of internal infield options to make up for his absence. They also lost Sandlin but they had the best bullpen in the league in 2024 and should have a strong relief corps without him. Straw wasn’t really in their plans. In short, they probably feel like the roster isn’t much worse, with now a great change in their financial picture.

Sacrificing $2MM of pool space will limit what they can do in that arena, but it’s theoretically possible that they can make up for that somewhat with the overall improvement in their ability to spend. Looking at the RosterResource page, they now have very few commitments apart from the José Ramírez deal.

Whether they will actually use that to upgrade the major league team or not is a fair question. The club’s broadcast deal with Diamond Sports Group, now known as Main Street Sports, has fallen apart. The Guards are now set to go into 2025 with MLB handling their broadcasts, which will almost certainly lead to less revenue coming in. On the other hand, they just engineered a surprise division win in 2024 and could have put some extra playoff revenue in the bank. RosterResource currently projects them for a payroll of about $91MM this year, which is a bit below the $98MM Opening Day figure that Cot’s Baseball Contracts gave them a year ago.

For the Jays, the Straw deal nudges their payroll up but only slightly. They reportedly made a strong offer to Corbin Burnes a few weeks ago, which was likely north of $30MM annually. He ultimately signed with the Diamondbacks for $210MM over six years, an average annual value of $35MM, though there are deferrals that knock those number down in terms of net present value. Still, the Jays were probably at least in that range. They have since added Jeff Hoffman, a three-year, $33MM deal with an AAV of $11MM. Straw’s deal will add another few million but perhaps there’s still some powder dry. The club has been tied to most of the top free agents still available, including Alex Bregman, Pete Alonso, Jack Flaherty, Anthony Santander and Nick Pivetta.

Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith and Shi Davidi (multiple links) reported that the Blue Jays were getting $2MM in pool space, and the $3.75MM figure contributed by the Guardians to Straw’s salary.  The Athletic’s Zack Meisel had the breakdown of how the $3.75MM would be allotted over the course of Straw’s remaining contract.

Share 0 Retweet 0 Send via email0

Cleveland Guardians Newsstand Toronto Blue Jays Transactions Myles Straw Roki Sasaki

Front Office Subscriber Chat Transcript
Main
Pirates To Acquire Chase Shugart
View Comments (283)
Post a Comment

283 Comments

  1. Jbigz12

    6 months ago

    Sasaki to Toronto.

    19
    Reply
    • horaceallen

      6 months ago

      Very interesting indeed.

      6
      Reply
    • tigers182

      6 months ago

      It would be cool to see a team outside of NY or LA sign a coveted player for once.

      52
      Reply
      • thebudlightknight

        6 months ago

        So the Padres don’t exist?

        3
        Reply
        • Gwynning

          6 months ago

          Always the bridesmaid, never the bride…

          Or something masculinely akin to that.

          16
          Reply
        • CarverAndrews

          6 months ago

          SD Padres, starring in 27 Cassocks…

          2
          Reply
        • tigers182

          6 months ago

          I knew somebody would take this out of context so they could be offended.

          6
          Reply
        • Gwynning

          6 months ago

          lol

          2
          Reply
        • User 4014041831

          6 months ago

          It’s just good to be nominated.

          Congratulations to all the winners regardless of your shameless attempts to curry favor.

          Oh Sorry Is this the Oscars, Golden Globes thread correct?
          Mr Magoo error –
          Time for a new prescription Argh!
          Apologies, (cough)
          Is he on Tik Tok? Nevermind.

          3
          Reply
        • deweybelongsinthehall

          6 months ago

          San Diego just started signing others assumedly meaning they realize their out

          1
          Reply
        • Fever Pitch Guy

          6 months ago

          Ya – He moved from Tik Tok to Red Note.

          1
          Reply
        • Longtimecoming

          6 months ago

          Probably. They can still trade for that money back and get back to a 6 mil offer – more than LAD has at the moment – if that matters to him.

          Just saying, signing 2 guys for 3 mil, while can be a sign, doesn’t mean they are out for sure.

          It may be that these guys were walking and they had to just make a business decision while in limbo as opposed to he told they are out for sure.

          Now, they may have to make a trade to get 3 mil back though to stay in.

          We will all know the team soon. Will never know the twists and turns of his thought process.

          1
          Reply
        • Ballstothewall

          6 months ago

          Padres have started signing kids and their money is vastly reduced

          Reply
        • runningwithnailclippers

          6 months ago

          No judgement here. Everyone is welcome. 🙂

          1
          Reply
        • Dodgerfan34

          6 months ago

          No. You just made the comment hoping somebody would so you could play the victim. Very popular these days. Well playe sir.

          Reply
        • BrianS

          6 months ago

          it was reported this morning on SI.com that the Padres were told they were out.

          1
          Reply
        • Longtimecoming

          6 months ago

          Balls – read above. They can trade for they mo way right back (and more) and still exceed LAD current amount.

          Reply
        • Longtimecoming

          6 months ago

          Then Roki is def on a plane to Toronto.

          Reply
        • Ballstothewall

          6 months ago

          They can but if you read the reports Padres are reportedly out.

          Reply
        • Skeptical

          6 months ago

          @Gwynning, See Bob Seeger”s “Beautiful Loser”, great song.

          1
          Reply
        • Dock_Elvis

          6 months ago

          Gwynning…The Jays have been the bridesmaid so many times they’re to the point of giving into a Boras and catching an STD. Just a single Canadian woman with 3 or 4 ugly kids that are eating her out of house and home in a few years. I’m watching every free agent for Kool aid stains around their mouth.

          1
          Reply
        • Gwynning

          6 months ago

          They may be divorced from the title, but at least the Jays can polish a ring or two… I’ll settle for one in my life. Ha

          1
          Reply
        • Gwynning

          6 months ago

          Thanks Skepz, needed some Seger just now. Good song!

          Reply
        • friesTO

          6 months ago

          They are no longer in the running, Sasaki’s team has dropped them from contention

          Reply
        • coloredpaper

          6 months ago

          Sounds like deja vu

          Reply
      • Never Remember

        6 months ago

        It has happened hundreds of times just in past ten years so get over yourself and stop making crap up.

        1
        Reply
        • desertball

          6 months ago

          Yeah but it FEELS tingly in my happy places when LA & NY lose. Those doodyheads

          5
          Reply
        • Unclemike1526

          6 months ago

          Ahhhh that’s so cute! They still think they have a shot.

          1
          Reply
        • BrianS

          6 months ago

          kinda cute you think you know what he is going to do

          Reply
      • Flyby

        6 months ago

        corbin burnes and the the diamondbacks think you are uncool

        Reply
    • bruinlife33

      6 months ago

      Let’s hope

      1
      Reply
    • MLB Top 100 Commenter

      6 months ago

      I am revising my odds:

      Dodgers 67%
      Padres 15%
      Blue Jays 10%
      Rest of MLB teams 3%
      He stays in Japan 5%

      By the way, A’s just announced player jerseys will have a sleeve patch with a picture of a Sacramento bridge and the word Sacramento under it. They are trying to straddle the fence to be called the Sacramento A’s but not completely.

      2
      Reply
      • CarverAndrews

        6 months ago

        A Bridge Too Far…

        1
        Reply
    • JackStrawb

      6 months ago

      The Giminez deal probably the most underrated deal and steal of the offseason.

      He’s put up 90% of Lindor’s value 2022-2024, 16.7 bWAR in those 3 seasons, and the Jays got him for a 27 yo 1Bman with little time in the majors and a 20 yo lottery ticket, a power-hitting corner OFer with a good college pedigree but all of 103 PA and .816 OPS in A ball.

      Unlike with Lindor and the Mets, though, the Jays get Giminez on an extension that doesn’t take them through the entirety of his decline phase, only through his age 30 season with a $23m option for age 31.

      The Jays pick up a 4-7 WAR platinum glove 2Bman on a 5/97m plus team option deal and send back not only no top 100 prospects, but nobody at a premium position. You have to be extremely high on Spencer Horwitz and his 1.5 bWAR in the majors through age 26 to think the Guardians didn’t get fleeced on this one.

      Why did they let Giminez go so cheaply, and why isn’t Toronto getting any plaudits for scooping 28 other teams? This one was a coup. In FA, turning 26 in 2025, Giminez would be in line for at least $300 million.

      2022-2024, bWAR, age in 2025:
      :
      Giminez, 16.7, 26
      Vlad Jr., 12.2, 26, 27 as a FA
      Soto, 18.9, 26
      Lindor 18.5, 31

      1
      Reply
      • Avory

        6 months ago

        OMG. More nonsense from $$/WAR adherents. Are you a player agent? Good god, man, Andres Gimenez cast on the free agent market now wouldn’t get anywhere near his current deal, much less if he were in a market where ALL players were free agents at the same time. Ludicrous assessment.

        3
        Reply
      • DanzigInTheDark

        6 months ago

        Perhaps Cleveland bailed because they didn’t want to pay that much money for a guy whose bat has trended down the past two years.

        It’s interesting you specify 2022-2024 for Gimenez, because it leaves out his middling 2021 year with them and includes his one, to date, outlier season. In 2023/24, he combined for a 90 OPS+ with a higher defensive WAR than offensive. When you take out that crazy 2022 season that looks more and more like a fluke, you’re left with a mediocre bat and an excellent glove at a non-premium position – I could see a reason why a team might want to not deal with the remaining 5/$97M on that deal.

        4
        Reply
        • Avory

          6 months ago

          No one enjoyed watching Andres play defense more than I did. His cutoffs/relay throws to home were alone worth the price of admission, they were so incredible. Cleveland will miss his defense terribly. But his approach at the plate is so awful, and I’m now convinced it will not improve. Despite quick hands, good contact skills, and unappreciated raw power, Andres simply does not have the ability to read pitches sufficiently well enough to be a league average hitter. Which is a shame, because even a modicum of on-base ability would make him valuable, given his elite speed and base-stealing ability on top of that glove. Add it up and he’s a frustrating, disappointing player who simply isn’t going to be worth anywhere near what his contract will be paying him. Toronto simply can afford the deficit more than Cleveland can.

          2
          Reply
    • DarrenDreifortsContract

      6 months ago

      Sasaki’s career wasted in Toronto.

      Reply
      • MLB Top 100 Commenter

        6 months ago

        Dreifort

        Why? Do you really think it is a waste for a player to play for a team that does not win it all?

        Reply
        • DarrenDreifortsContract

          6 months ago

          No but the Blue Jays finished in last place last season and have only won the AL East once in the last 31 years.

          Nobody is watching Blue Jays games after his first start.

          Reply
    • GASoxFan

      6 months ago

      Now if every other team would refuse to trade LAD any intl bonus money….

      Would Sasaki believe in a collusion? Would he think it disrespect from the dodgers in not being willing to give up what it takes to get it done?

      Or, if nothing else, give $250k for each top prospect in the LA farm, starting with #1 and working down.

      How badly would they want him?

      Reply
    • PrincessYuki

      6 months ago

      Only thing that makes sense at this point.

      Reply
    • Show all 41 replies
  2. TAKERDBACKS

    6 months ago

    I remember thinking he will be a solid player. Never know in baseball

    3
    Reply
    • Fever Pitch Guy

      6 months ago

      Taker – Straw is what Rafaela is on course to be.

      Red Sox fans hope not however.

      3
      Reply
      • Misty Moobs

        6 months ago

        Rafaela will be a perennial all star and platinum glove winner in center field and if he becomes a great hitter will be a first ballot hall of famer

        4
        Reply
        • runningwithnailclippers

          6 months ago

          Don’t forget he will also get a movie made about his life and times.

          1
          Reply
        • DerekBellsMoistMoustache

          6 months ago

          He’s already a first ballot player. Imagine if he becomes a great manager too, while he’s playing! They’ll waive the waiting period!

          2
          Reply
        • Fever Pitch Guy

          6 months ago

          run – They’ve already begun production of the movie, tentatively titled: “Rafaela: I Survived A Vicious Attack By My Gold Chains”..

          1
          Reply
        • Say Hey Now Kid

          6 months ago

          Plus he will play himself and win an Oscar

          1
          Reply
        • coloredpaper

          6 months ago

          You guys are hilarious lol

          1
          Reply
      • WCSoxFan

        6 months ago

        This may seem true on a surface level (sub-par bat, great defender, tremendous positional flexibility, plus speed) but their offensive issues are quite different.

        Shaw has had better than league average walk rates and strikeout rates (9.4%; 17.7%) while Rafaela struggles in both areas (2.9%; 27.1%). Shaw’s issue has always been that he couldn’t impact the baseball (career best .076 iso and 26.4% hardhit%) but Rafaela doesn’t have this problems (.143 iso and 36.7 hardhit% in 2024). Or to put it more simply: Rafaela already has almost 3x the home runs (17 to 6) in one-third of the plate appearances (660 to 1980).

        Shaw was able to max-out his physical talent by the age of 25 but Rafaela is uber talented, we just don’t know if he’ll be able to use that talent or remain passable offensively due to his defense. The floor and ceiling are higher on Rafaela. Also helps that Rafaela’s contract is only guaranteed through his age 30 season.

        1
        Reply
  3. backmeupvito

    6 months ago

    It’s happening

    2
    Reply
    • Fever Pitch Guy

      6 months ago

      back – I met Rerun many years ago ….. oh wait a minute, you wrote “it’s” not “what’s” …. never mind. Haha!

      3
      Reply
    • JackStrawb

      6 months ago

      That’s what she…. Sorry, wrong thread.

      1
      Reply
      • foppert3

        6 months ago

        Ha ha.

        Reply
  4. bhd360

    6 months ago

    ….DON’T PLAY WITH ME ROSS

    ROKIIIIIIIIII

    4
    Reply
  5. Ann Porkins

    6 months ago

    Please mean the Dodgers don’t get Sasaki.

    Please mean the Dodgers don’t get Sasaki.

    Please mean the Dodgers don’t get Sasaki.

    Please mean the Dodgers don’t get Sasaki.

    41
    Reply
    • nukeg

      6 months ago

      MLB better hope this means the Dodgers don’t get Sasaki. I know a lot of casual fans that are tired of the Dodgers dominating the talent grab. Dodger fatigue.

      2
      Reply
      • BlueSkies_LA

        6 months ago

        Who is MLB, and why would they hope this?

        Reply
        • coloredpaper

          6 months ago

          I’d say because if there’s a competitive imbalance, they will lose out on revenue bc people will stop watching. Who would want to follow a sport where one team dominates the rest of the competition *shrug*

          Reply
        • BlueSkies_LA

          6 months ago

          The competitive imbalance has been a factor forever, because it’s baked into the MLB revenue system, but this ending of interest in the game hasn’t happened yet, so I don’t know why it would start now. Funny, though. A year ago the Dodgers were being called the Kings of Choke and widely predicted to never win a “real” World Series again. Then they do, and suddenly are transformed into the Evil Empire that will surely cause people to stop following baseball. *shrug*

          2
          Reply
  6. jamesryu14

    6 months ago

    Hmm maybe there is still hope for Jays.

    9
    Reply
    • Fever Pitch Guy

      6 months ago

      james – Yep, that’s what I said the other day. If the Jays were out on Roki, he would have eliminated them already.

      Predictions are kinda useless when none of us here have a clue about what Roki is thinking. Best to just wait it out until he makes the announcement.

      3
      Reply
      • Rexhudler86

        6 months ago

        @FPG. Looking like he’s going to the jays. Was saying it would take around 8-9 to get him since that’s about what skenes got for his bonus. I don’t think jays had any players in the top 50 for international signings. Doesn’t make sense unless they flip it to the dodgers.

        1
        Reply
        • Fever Pitch Guy

          6 months ago

          Rex – Yep this transaction sure makes it seem like it. I’m happy for the Jays, looking forward to seeing Roki pitch at Fenway a couple times a year.

          2
          Reply
        • TheBoatmen

          6 months ago

          They have a verbal with #22 Cris Polanco. I might have messed the name up.

          Reply
      • bullred

        6 months ago

        Fever Pitch Guy

        Yeah, I think this is just a chess move by the Jays. Have at least something better than the Dodgers. They now have more money available. Roki doesn’t seem to care as much about the money so will probably still take the LA offer. Gives the Jays FO something to dangle to their fans that they tried. That’s my guess.

        1
        Reply
        • Rexhudler86

          6 months ago

          @bullred. Everyone says he doesn’t care about money doesn’t understand. His agent has a number for the bonus and it starts at a 8. Dodgers can get around that, but jays can get a extra million on the dodgers because of the tiers. It’s looks like the jays complied with his number. They didn’t get a extra 2 million to sign international free agents.

          1
          Reply
        • BrianS

          6 months ago

          doubt they would take on $10million in a bad contract just to ‘show their fans they tried’. There has to be some kind of plan, if not Sasaki then maybe scoop the players the Dodgers would not be able to sign now?

          1
          Reply
        • Rexhudler86

          6 months ago

          @brian. Exactly its not a smokescreen, and dodgers already lost one to pirates. It’s already a done deal the dodgers can match the jays or come close, but the blue jays can add a little more if they needed too. Plus It would’ve happened in the deal. This means sasaki said I’m signing just need this number.

          1
          Reply
        • bullred

          6 months ago

          Great if it happens, but I don’t see it happening.

          1
          Reply
        • bullred

          6 months ago

          Rexhudler86

          People understand fine. If you can wait a bit and sign for a couple hundred million dollars but instead choose to sign early at single digit millions it easy easy to see why people feel he doesn’t care as much about the money.

          Reply
        • GriffeyJrFan

          6 months ago

          Couldn’t this be Toronto hedging their bet. If they don’t get Sasaki couldn’t they use the extra money to pick up the the players that didn’t get signed because the dodgers or padres signed Sasaki and have no money left for players that they originally committed too. Both the Dodgers and Padres have done well with international talent lately.

          Reply
      • jimmertee

        6 months ago

        @FeverPitchGuy some us do have clue what Roki is thinking. Some of it is public. Roki will do all he can to get the Dodgers up to the best deal whether it be acquiring more bonus pool money or a handshake deal [and yes handshake deals are real in MLB].

        1
        Reply
        • Fever Pitch Guy

          6 months ago

          jim – I guess I have trust issues. Haha!

          All these guys (especially agents and teams) use the media for posturing. They won’t say so-and-so is my top preference, if they do then they lose leverage.

          It’s like buying a house, if you really want a particular house you aren’t gonna make that known because then they will try to get you to pay more for it.

          Everything with a grain of salt.

          1
          Reply
  7. James Midway

    6 months ago

    He’s on a plane

    14
    Reply
    • BrianCashmansBurner

      6 months ago

      I’m surprised I had to scroll this far down for a plane joke. Poor Toronto.

      10
      Reply
    • elgrandeuno

      6 months ago

      Yup just left LAX heading to Glendale AZ and visit camelback ranch !!!!!

      1
      Reply
    • solaris602

      6 months ago

      A small crowd of Jays fans are gathering at the airport. This is strictly confidential, so don’t tell anyone

      3
      Reply
    • BlueSkies_LA

      6 months ago

      Nonsense. He was just spotted on La Brea eating a hotdog at Pink’s.

      2
      Reply
      • sacball

        6 months ago

        I’ll never understand the fascination with Pink’s, this coming from an ex-resident turned somewhat tourist..

        Reply
        • BlueSkies_LA

          6 months ago

          No fascination, it’s just a joke.

          Reply
  8. Old York

    6 months ago

    Jays doubling down on more defense and no offense.

    5
    Reply
    • bigdaddyt

      6 months ago

      Can straw still play SS as maybe he is gonna be Bo insurance for the sell off

      1
      Reply
      • Old York

        6 months ago

        @bigdaddyt

        He didn’t play any SS the past 3 seasons so if he does, I guess it would be a Mookie Betts situation?

        1
        Reply
      • Dustyslambchops23

        6 months ago

        They have gimenez and clement

        3
        Reply
        • bigdaddyt

          6 months ago

          Who will already be playing 2nd and 3rd. Barger and Schneider can also play a little infield but it’s still not an inspiring mix of players

          Reply
        • Dustyslambchops23

          6 months ago

          Wagner would be playing well before straw

          1
          Reply
        • bigdaddyt

          6 months ago

          Right forgot about wags

          Reply
    • Os1995

      6 months ago

      Jays took on a bad contract to get bonus pool money for Roki. If they dont sign Roki this will look really bad.

      3
      Reply
      • JackStrawb

        6 months ago

        Os1995 Not even that bad a contract given Straw’s just one year removed from a 1.1 WAR season and he’s making 6-7m each over the next two years, with cheap team options for the two years following.

        Is he probably worth it? No. He’s turning 30, the age at which glove-first CFers begin their long journey through a half dozen minor league systems… but the Jays have time to see if Straw can turn it around given he’s still running at 29+ fps.

        Reply
    • Ducey

      6 months ago

      Yeah, Straw is Atkins’ prototype player. Short, walks a lot, can’t hit, and can play multiple positions/ GG defense.

      Probably has some maths that tells him Straw is just about the break out offensively.

      The Jays still will need a big bat.

      Reply
  9. Evan Siggson

    6 months ago

    O man, I feel for Toronto if they miss out on their Japanese star two years in a row

    8
    Reply
  10. Gwynning

    6 months ago

    Go get ‘im, Jays! I mean, if we can’t have him…

    16
    Reply
  11. jdgoat

    6 months ago

    I feel bad for all 29 other fanbases. We’re just hanging up all the team Gold Glove award banners. How do we have it so good.

    6
    Reply
    • Gwynning

      6 months ago

      Twinning!

      2
      Reply
  12. Butter Biscuits

    6 months ago

    Taking 15 million in myles straw contract is a hard bargain to pass up for the guardians

    4
    Reply
    • CKinSTL

      6 months ago

      I imagine that Cleveland is still covering a good portion of the Straw contract.

      1
      Reply
    • bucsfan0004

      6 months ago

      Cleveland is quietly passing off all their bad contracts to Toronto

      6
      Reply
    • Col_chestbridge

      6 months ago

      I’m a Guardians fan and I don’t like this.

      The Guards are usually well under their IFA pool, them having extra money there isn’t surprising. They have relationships with guys and a whole pipeline, it’s not like they do poorly there. But I see two distinct options that would have been better:

      1) Use the space to bid on guys the winning team is gonna have to walk away from
      2) Trade that very valuable space for a good prospect (I guess we will see about the PTBNL)

      Getting rid of straw isnt

      1
      Reply
      • Rexhudler86

        6 months ago

        @col they got two players and rid of a bad contract for two million they wouldn’t use anyway. Hard to complain. This doesn’t mean they can’t use the money for free agency. Dodgers had a prospect walk away, and padres signed. Who’s available?

        Reply
      • norcalguardiansfan

        6 months ago

        It is not true that the Guardians are usually well under their IFA pool. In fact, the opposite is true. They usually bang up against the 5% over limit.

        It is amazing how far Guardians fans will go to talk smack against their own team. This is a good move and so was the Giminez trade.

        This is also a poor year for international players, sans Sasaki. This was a perfect time to make a deal like this and get an awful contract off their books.

        Reply
    • ohyeadam

      6 months ago

      International bonus money really comes at a premium cost

      Reply
  13. FanDan

    6 months ago

    No matter how this turns out, good job Cleveland. Offloaded a bad contract onto someone else, getting something in return and it only cost you some bonus pool space. A well run franchise. Can you give AJ Preller some training?

    5
    Reply
    • CKinSTL

      6 months ago

      Hard to claim a victory on this one. Cleveland acquired Straw in an absolutely terrible trade (Yainer Diaz and Phil Maton to Houston).. then gave Straw a terrible contract extension.

      Now they are just making the best of a bad situation in offloading a portion of that bad contract. I would think that Cleveland is still eating a majority of the contract for Straw.

      4
      Reply
      • NickTheDev

        6 months ago

        3.75 million spread over 3 years. Toronto is taking most of it.

        1
        Reply
      • 101reklaw

        6 months ago

        Do you guys even read the article? Guards are sending just $3.75 mil toward Straws contract to the Jays. Not a majority. Cleveland dumped quite a chuck of salary. And Toronto sucked it up.

        1
        Reply
        • JackStrawb

          6 months ago

          There’s an article?

          1
          Reply
      • smuzqwpdmx

        6 months ago

        It’s a mark of a good GM to admit your mistakes and minimize your losses instead of sticking with the failed player like too many do for too long because there’s ego involved.

        Reply
    • Rexhudler86

      6 months ago

      @fan also getting two players back. That’s why it’s a 100 percent the deal to get roki. I’m guessing Cleveland had the best deal to get rid of the contract.

      Reply
  14. HalosHeavenJJ

    6 months ago

    Pretty big return for Toronto, particularly if this lands them Roki.

    I wonder who they are giving up.

    1
    Reply
    • Dustyslambchops23

      6 months ago

      This could also be a pivot from Roki and spreading more money around for other intl signings.

      4
      Reply
    • O'sSayCanYouSee

      6 months ago

      Does the PTBNL have a “if we get/if we don’t get Roki” clause on it?

      1
      Reply
      • Dustyslambchops23

        6 months ago

        Interesting, that could make some sense

        Reply
        • norcalguardiansfan

          6 months ago

          I bet that is exactly the deal.

          Reply
  15. Suitcase Simpson

    6 months ago

    get your apologies to the dodgers ready.

    Reply
  16. Mr. E Team

    6 months ago

    I thought teams could only add international bonus pool $250k at a time

    Reply
    • boblowlaw2

      6 months ago

      Increments

      2
      Reply
      • Gwynning

        6 months ago

        You’re fast, bob. Chasing that ambulance at 100MPH!

        4
        Reply
    • Gwynning

      6 months ago

      Increments of $250k… so $500k, $750k, $1.75MM are all ok, so on and so forth.

      4
      Reply
    • Butter Biscuits

      6 months ago

      I think it’s in increments of $250k

      Reply
    • Michael Chaney

      6 months ago

      They can only add pool space in *increments* of $250K at a time. So since they’re adding $2 million, it’s allowed.

      Reply
    • positively_broad_st

      6 months ago

      Increments of $250K. Can’t trade something like $100K or $300K, but can trade one block of $250K or more than one block of $250K stacked together. So 250, 500, 750, 1.000, 1.250, etc.

      1
      Reply
      • texasguscc

        6 months ago

        LOL, well if that isn’t broken down for us in the most simple terms…

        Reply
    • Mr. E Team

      6 months ago

      Appreciate the clarification.
      Incrementally at least

      2
      Reply
  17. King Floch

    6 months ago

    The Blue Jays bailing out the Guardians on another awful contract after already taking on Gimenez’s ill-fated extension, how nice of them!

    I still hope the Dodgers land Sasaki though, mostly because I don’t want him in the ALE but also because that would be hilarious.

    4
    Reply
    • Dustyslambchops23

      6 months ago

      I mean, we don’t know how much cash cle is handing over so let’s chill on the bailing out.

      100% true on the gimenez deal tho lol

      Reply
    • solaris602

      6 months ago

      Jays fans, if you liked Bradley Zimmer you’re gonna love Straw – all glove, no stick….and I do mean no stick. If TOR doesn’t land Sasaki, this is gonna be quite the exploding cigar for them.

      4
      Reply
      • DerekBellsMoistMoustache

        6 months ago

        The Jays farm is in rough shape. Adding some potential there if Sasaki falls through is not the worst outcome. And until we find out how much Cleveland is eating on the contract, it’s pretty silly to make any assumptions.

        1
        Reply
    • JackStrawb

      6 months ago

      “Ill-fated”? Pffft.

      Reply
  18. JRamHOF

    6 months ago

    The Columbus Clippers lost a good one

    2
    Reply
  19. Rexhudler86

    6 months ago

    I would say this a good sign for the jays puts them around 8-9 million in pool money.

    Reply
    • RotiniRick

      6 months ago

      $8,261,600.

      5
      Reply
      • Rexhudler86

        6 months ago

        @rotini. They could still add more that’s why I kept it open. It’s 60% of 6.2

        3
        Reply
  20. E.D Murray

    6 months ago

    Quick, someone start checking for large party dinner reservations in Toronto.

    1
    Reply
  21. Aoe3

    6 months ago

    Rumour is SD is out of the race. This will be interesting. Believe LA is still the favourite but man what a surprise and boost to a Toronto team if he signed there.

    3
    Reply
  22. positively_broad_st

    6 months ago

    Cleveland got themselves out of having to pay Straw $15.5M to be a mediocre player in AAA over the next two years. Smart move for both sides…

    1
    Reply
  23. dasit

    6 months ago

    this is the equivalent of “ohtani has booked
    a sushi restaurant to celebrate”

    2
    Reply
    • highflyballintorightfield

      6 months ago

      If memory serves, it wasn’t even that. Kikuchi made a reservation and everyone assumed Ohtani would be his guest. 😀

      2
      Reply
  24. Cincyfan85

    6 months ago

    Please go to the Blue Jays… I hate the Dodgers lol.

    7
    Reply
  25. Dodger Dog

    6 months ago

    Salary Dump

    Reply
  26. Old York

    6 months ago

    Sasaki can’t find any suitable teams to play for in the MLB so he’ll head back to the more reputable NPB to play.

    2
    Reply
    • James Midway

      6 months ago

      Ham Fighters could always use pitching

      1
      Reply
      • Old York

        6 months ago

        @James Midway

        Nippon Ham is the company name and nickname is Fighters.

        nipponham.co.jp/

        Reply
        • James Midway

          6 months ago

          I know I just like to call them that because it sounds better

          4
          Reply
        • Old York

          6 months ago

          @James Midway

          I’d like to see Apple own the Giants and call them Apple Giants

          Amazon could take over the M’s and rename them Amazon Mariners.

          1
          Reply
        • bestone

          6 months ago

          …or…Amazon take the Giants…then they could be the Amazon Giants….

          3
          Reply
  27. Golfsucks

    6 months ago

    Go Toronto!

    Straw is a burner and plays vey good defence.
    My guess is that he gets released.
    Cleveland will get some of that money back or a fringe 40 man man player.
    Toronto is going to have to do some DFA’ing over the next few weeks.
    That’s a lot of bonus cash to get in one trade.
    That also puts LA way behind in money.
    Going to be a fun baseball day!

    1
    Reply
    • Digdugler

      6 months ago

      For a team with literally zero offense in the outfield, I don’t know how they could legitimately play a worse hitter than Bradley Zimmer.

      3
      Reply
  28. Rsox

    6 months ago

    This could be the last Straw for Blue Jays fans if all they get out of this deal is Myles Straw…

    2
    Reply
  29. BetterMuppet:JUDGEorKERMIT?

    6 months ago

    9.4 million guaranteed over the next 2 years….for an at best 4th outfielder

    Mr Shapiro, I hope you know what your doing here…a high price to pay for 2 million in international money your not chosen.

    Fingers crossed.

    3
    Reply
  30. Datashark

    6 months ago

    Wow, if Sasaki shuns Toronto like Ohtani, they will be hurting with paying off Straw for no reason.

    4
    Reply
    • Digdugler

      6 months ago

      Its $15M over 3 years (buy out the last year). Gimenez trade hurts the Jays way more.

      Reply
    • Ducey

      6 months ago

      Well they would have a lot of signing money, and presumably whoever the Dodgers were to sign would be left high and dry. They could wind up with a good signing class.

      The problem is that they suck at picking players. This is really the problem with Atkins. TOR needs to draft and develop and they just cant.

      1
      Reply
      • Datashark

        6 months ago

        the best players Dodgers were signing have already shifted away to other teams

        Reply
    • seamaholic 2

      6 months ago

      The Straw deal is loose change. Irrelevant.

      Reply
  31. Dustyslambchops23

    6 months ago

    I know this deal isn’t about Straw. But I would love to have a view on the average OPS of the players Atkins has signed/acquired lol

    2
    Reply
  32. Bob Sacamano 310

    6 months ago

    I guess the only downside to this if they don’t sign Roki is that they pay Myles Straw and all the other bigger international guys have signed. You might get lucky later on though and someone emerges that decides not to wait until next signing period.

    Reply
  33. NoSaint

    6 months ago

    If the 2M bump is the thing to land Roki, this is a good move… If he doesn’t go with the Jays, well, let’s see how the rest of the contract looks like.

    1
    Reply
  34. GB85

    6 months ago

    Something is definitely cooking for the Jays, don’t know if that necessarily means Sasaki or not, but something is definitely up.

    2
    Reply
    • Datashark

      6 months ago

      if nothing happens and they are left with big international money with no one to spend it on…means one GM is out of job soon enough

      1
      Reply
  35. ny papi

    6 months ago

    Is the stove getting room temp for the jays??

    1
    Reply
  36. CCooper8920

    6 months ago

    I feel so bad for the Blue Jays

    2
    Reply
  37. Salzilla

    6 months ago

    Go Jays! You got this, I believe in you!

    1
    Reply
  38. MC Tim C

    6 months ago

    Sasaki is going to sign with the Dodgers. It’s been a given since day one. I feel bad for Blue Jays fans because this is just getting their hopes up.

    Reply
    • friesTO

      6 months ago

      from TheStar the notion of this move may be about a number Sasaki gave the Jays and Atkins is making it happen. Take it from Jays fans, he wouldn’t do this on his own initiative. (yes he would do a terrible trade but it’s so specific and random in this case) So it’s all about the available international pool money and now they have more than the Dodgers.

      That bodes well for Sasaki coming to the Jays if they met his request. Still up to him to decide though. But if everyone just goes to the Dodgers, great for them, but it diminishes MLB ability to spread out top prospects

      Reply
  39. Whiskey and leather balls

    6 months ago

    Exactly what the cheap tribe need to do, give up signing amateurs to save a few bucks that they wont spend anyway

    1
    Reply
  40. westcasey

    6 months ago

    Incredible cleveland was able to dump Straw and his salary. Kudos to them for fixing the problem they created for themselves. It Did cost them several million over last season plus this new agreement. But problem is gone. Maybe Cleveland can sign an OF that can hit. or probably Dolan will just keep the money as TV contract is less , plus they are a small market in case you missed that.

    1
    Reply
    • In nurse follars

      6 months ago

      I think polanco would be an interesting acquisition on a one year deal. A switch hitter who keeps second base warm until a may or june brito call up. If he hits he could be flipped at the trading deadline and if he doesnt hit he can be released. An entire infield of switch hitters.

      Reply
    • Whiskey and leather balls

      6 months ago

      Have you seen what they get for revenue sharing? Dont drink the small market koolaid

      1
      Reply
      • Avory

        6 months ago

        The only “Kool-Aid” being swallowed is insinuating that the big markets are somehow noble because they have the revenue to spend and the small markets have it but don’t. It’s the big lie perpetuated by the big markets and big player agents to justify big market dominance. The real truth is that there are large, fixed expenses that EVERY market has to spend to participate in the league and the amount of discretionary revenue after that is vastly different. Over the long run, every owner spends roughly the same % of revenue on baseball operations as every other owner, it’s just that the denominator in the equation is nowhere near the same. Berating small market owners who spend the % equivalent of big market owners is simply carrying the water for those teams who are quite pleased by their advantageous position in the game, and happy to have fans cheerleading for them the way you do.

        3
        Reply
        • Smelly_Cobb

          6 months ago

          Well said.

          Reply
        • fred-3

          6 months ago

          Avory, we had a league in 70s and 80s where everything was more even and the union hated it. If MLB returned to that model, the league wouldn’t survive, as there would be work stoppages every few years.

          This current model appeases everyone. Big markets get to spend, union reap the rewards from big contracts from big markets, small marketowners get to not spend (let’s be real, they don’t want to).

          Reply
        • Dustyslambchops23

          6 months ago

          I think you’re right to an extent, it’s a business and that makes perfect business sense. As much as it is a business it’s a very unique business in that their is limits to winning new revenue, the dodgers don’t win padre fans over because they have a better product the same way apple could over Samsung.

          There is a variable that can alter the equation though, and that’s a willingness to temporarily reduce margins to build a brand.

          A team that can build a winning culture, a brand of excellence will inevitably bring in more money. Some times that comes from a simple % of the organic revenue, but other times it can come from over extending.

          I look at a team like the Red Sox, Boston isn’t the biggest market but they act like a big market because at some point they over extended and acted bigger than they were to create a brand.

          A team like Miami could invest in their brand and team to create that culture, it’s not guaranteed to work but it could and then could change the denominator

          Reply
        • Avory

          6 months ago

          Well, that’s a bunch of questionable revisionist history if I’ve ever heard it. Today’s humongous TV deals, bloated playoff structure, explosion in franchise values, and much greater strength of the MLBPA makes absurd any comparison between the sport’s landscape today and fifty years ago. There was no more “parity” in competition then there is now, players just weren’t getting their fair share of whatever revenue was being generated. It had zero to do with competitive balance, and frankly, it has never BEEN about competitive balance. Players don’t give two hoots about competitive balance, all they care about is that there are bidders for their services.

          The contention that small markets “don’t want to spend” is like saying a laborer could afford a new BMW but chooses a used Chevy…sure, he might be able to scrape enough together to start payments on an expensive car, but does that make any sense at all in his circumstances? Hell no. The idea that the the current Yankee, Red Sox, Dodger, or Cub owners wouldn’t do anything differently were they the CLE, Pirate, Rays, or Brewers owners is one of the most delusional contentions fans have. They have swallowed the absurdities spewed by big market owners and big player agents for so long that they act like wealthy people always do: denigrate those at the bottom of the heap to justify their exalted position in life. And fans buy it, hook, line, and sinker.

          1
          Reply
        • Dustyslambchops23

          6 months ago

          You’re completely ignoring the power of marketing and brand. Again I’m not disagreeing overall but there is a grey area in the middle of teams that absolutely could spend more to create a better brand and product and don’t.

          How else do you explain the revenue difference between the white Sox and cubs, the angels and dodgers, the cardinals and the royals. Yes the white Sox can’t go out and spend 300 million a year on salaries like the Yankees, no one suggesting that is a possibility, but to suggest that their current revenue is tapped out while they have a consistently terrible in field product and don’t invest in players is a pretty myopic view.

          Your car analogy is in no way applicable here, these are businesses, some invest heavily in r & d, marketing and brand and some don’t. The ones that do have a a far better chance at reaching their revenue ceiling than those that don’t.

          1
          Reply
        • Avory

          6 months ago

          Nah, it’s nowhere near applicable when there are such wide disparities in revenue.

          Amazing how people ignore that ALL these owners are wealthy, but in the end, ALL will operate teams like they’re businesses. Everything is irrelevant other than annual budgets based on revenue expectations.

          The ONLY difference is the skill front offices have in navigating what discretionary revenue they have to spend. Fortunately, largess creates sloppy, stupid behaviors in big markets which small markets must depend upon to compete. Thank goodness most big markets are fat and dumb, otherwise the shrewd and the resourceful (Rays, CLE, Brewers) wouldn’t have any chance at all. You have varying degrees of competence and incompetence up and down the line, but the scariest proposition is when smarts and wherewithal are married, like in the Dodgers.

          This isn’t about “brand management;” it’s basically the prosperous vs. less prosperous and the quick vs. the slow like it is in every endeavor in life.

          1
          Reply
        • Dustyslambchops23

          6 months ago

          I’m not suggesting that there aren’t inherit advantages to being in a big market and having more organic revenue; also not suggesting that Tampa or Miami can every achieve those highs

          Merely suggesting that it’s absolutely possible to impact revenue by investments in the product. If you want to use your car apology, it can work if we talk about a financial advisor, if they make 80k a year, they could buy a Kia, but perhaps over extending with a Benz would create a better brand and an illusion of success that would benefit his ability to sell his services, and perhaps make more money.

          But anyways, agree to disagree here. Cheers

          1
          Reply
        • fred-3

          6 months ago

          Yes, most small market owners absolutely do not want to spend any money. You like to use analogies so here’s one: If someone offered you a job, that paid 25m or more per year, to stand in the middle of downtown and let the entire city yell at you, would you take that job? That job is owning the Pirates, Marlins, or any other small market team. It’s a nice setup and it’s why most of these guys will never sell, despite crying poor. Bob Nutting, for example, has owned the Pirates since 1996 and has not given any indication that he cares about anything on the field.

          Reply
        • hockeyjohn

          6 months ago

          Fred -3, The league wouldn’t survive? The NFL is now far and away the most popular league and all teams are on equal footing.

          1
          Reply
        • fred-3

          6 months ago

          Big market teams will never give up their TV money revenue and small market owners will never agree to a minimum salary threshold (as I said, they do not want to spend money). Even suggesting these changes during CBA negotiations will lead to work constant stoppages. The time to change the system was in 1994-1995, but they didn’t.

          Reply
        • Avory

          6 months ago

          Baloney. Small market teams spend they same % of their revenue on baseball operations as their rich brethren, there’s just a wide disparity in discretionary funds. You can’t see that, it’s willful ignorance. Or just carrying water for the big markets. (You actually don’t think they pocket profits far in excess of the small markets? Boy, have they pulled the wool over your eyes.)

          A minimum spending floor isn’t an issue with small markets, it’s the necessity for it to be tied to a cap.. That’s an issue with PLAYERS, not small markets. Get your facts straight. You can’t have a floor without a cap, period. Small markets have to compete differently under the current arrangement, and the skilled teams manage to do it. The unskilled small markets wouldn’t do well if they had twice the revenue and the unskilled big markets would look even worse were they under cap constraints.

          Reply
        • fred-3

          6 months ago

          Owners won’t agree to a salary floor unless the players agree to a salary cap. They know the players will never agree to that, so these are the discussions that will never happen. I’m not disagreeing with your premise, although most small market owners are cheap by nature and won’t spend unless you put them in a corner.

          Reply
  41. momTurphy

    6 months ago

    Roki to the Guardians as a PTBNL????

    2
    Reply
  42. seamaholic 2

    6 months ago

    Wow, the Jays got their bonus cap space for a freakin’ salary dump. And not even a big one. That bonus space is so valuable for them. Effing embarrassing for the Guardians.

    6
    Reply
    • In nurse follars

      6 months ago

      No. They clear some dead money and playing time in columbus. There was no future for straw in cleveland. They cut there losses. Addition by subtraction. Delauter is the future, valara is a hope who needs to play.

      Reply
      • Seamaholic

        6 months ago

        I don’t care about getting rid of Straw. They could just cut him. He makes all of $6m and is a very good defender at least. About a 1 WAR player (his contract’s not even under water for crying out loud). Everyone knows Toronto was desperate for cap space, and Cleveland hands a HUGE chunk of it to them for a mini-dump whose salary the Jays will barely notice. Pathetic. Whole bunch of GM’s are royally pissed at the Guardians right now.

        Reply
        • Avory

          6 months ago

          Riiiiiight….Straw’s contract isn’t “underwater.”….I see we have another believer in the spurious $$/WAR equation that only player agents love to spout.

          That’s a back-of-the-napkin calculation for limited free agency that bears no semblance to reality. The ONLY $$/WAR calculation that WOULD make any sense is one where ALL players were free agents at the same time, THEN you’d know what value a player truly would have. And Straw as a free agent in that marketplace would make a base Triple-A salary AT BEST. His current contract is so far underwater a submarine couldn’t get to it. Criticize CLE all you want for a poor assessment of Straw on the front end, but not for smartly getting out from under the bad contract that’s been drowning them ever since it was signed.

          4
          Reply
        • Dustyslambchops23

          6 months ago

          His value is completely defensive, but his bat doesn’t justify playing time. The contract is completely under water.

          4
          Reply
    • Rexhudler86

      6 months ago

      @seam.They gave up two players for a pinch runner on a expensive contract for his production. It works out for both teams.

      Reply
  43. seamaholic 2

    6 months ago

    Not right away, no. But a year from now? No one knows.

    Reply
  44. Sk8

    6 months ago

    Why?

    Reply
    • Bob Sacamano 310

      6 months ago

      Why what?

      1
      Reply
  45. Reynaldo's

    6 months ago

    Why does Sasaki say he prefers the West Coast but still consider Toronto?

    Reply
    • BlueSkies_LA

      6 months ago

      I prefer halibut, but I will eat salmon.

      3
      Reply
      • stormie

        6 months ago

        Sure, but if you could only eat one or the other for the next 6-7 years, you’re choosing the halibut.

        Reply
        • BlueSkies_LA

          6 months ago

          Sounds to me like it might be too much of a good thing.

          Reply
    • Seamaholic

      6 months ago

      Because he didn’t say that (he hasn’t said anything publicly).

      1
      Reply
  46. Bob Sacamano 310

    6 months ago

    At least he’s not taking up space on the 40-man

    Reply
  47. Dustyslambchops23

    6 months ago

    Jays are 100% being used as leverage here.

    He wants to go to the dodgers, but dodgers were capping their spend so this is the agent using jays as leverage to get more out of the dodgers.

    Book it

    3
    Reply
    • Van Lingle Mungo

      6 months ago

      Dodgers aren’t “capping” their spending. They can only use their allotment, and if no team is willing to trade with them, then there’s only so much they can do.

      4
      Reply
      • Dustyslambchops23

        6 months ago

        Jays just took on a bad contract to push the cap, so yes there is always something they can do, jays are just being used as leverage

        1
        Reply
        • marcfrombrooklyn

          6 months ago

          If all he wants is money, he should have waited two years or he needs one of the shoe companies, I mean “lifestyle brands to pony up.

          Reply
    • Rexhudler86

      6 months ago

      @dusty. What’s this leverage you speak of. Blue Jay’s can get more international money. Dodgers are at the bottom and can only acquire 60% additional to the total. Do you realize he’s a minor league free agent, not a indentured servant.
      sasaki <<<_____ no leverage

      3
      Reply
      • Dustyslambchops23

        6 months ago

        So you’re suggesting that for a minor league free agent, an extra 60% in signing bonus is not attractive?

        Agents goal is to squeeze every last possible dollar out of every contract, just because it’s not 300+ mil doesn’t mean that changes, if anything any extra million here would be far more important

        Reply
        • Rexhudler86

          6 months ago

          @dusty no just saying the jays have acquired the same amount as the dodgers max out. That’s not leverage or shenanigans that’s the offer he accepted.

          1
          Reply
        • Rexhudler86

          6 months ago

          @mystery. Agree. Jays have a million on the dodgers would’ve added it in the trade to max out if needed. Just means this was his number he wanted and it’s done.

          1
          Reply
        • Van Lingle Mungo

          6 months ago

          No, but if money mattered to him, he could have waited 2 years and then gotten a Yoshinobu-type contract instead of leaving Japan early.

          Reply
        • Dustyslambchops23

          6 months ago

          This doesn’t make sense. Yes he could have waited for more, but he didn’t.

          But that decision is done and now you try to maximize your contract. If money didn’t matter at all, why not sign for 60k?

          Reply
        • Van Lingle Mungo

          6 months ago

          It does make sense. $60k is a stupid amount of money. But the difference in $5 million in California and $8 million in Canada in negligible.

          Reply
        • Ballstothewall

          6 months ago

          8 mil usd goes a very very very long way when converted to Canadian dollars. It gives him ~ 11.5 mil to work with

          Reply
        • Dustyslambchops23

          6 months ago

          lol what?

          5 million usd in CA is roughly 2.5 mil take home

          8 million USD in ON is roughly 3.8 mil take home.

          That’s over 30% difference with 1.3 million more. Real negligible

          Reply
        • friesTO

          6 months ago

          All MLB contracts are paid in US dollars

          1
          Reply
        • Jays_Jen

          6 months ago

          @fries Right? WHY is this so hard to understand?

          Reply
        • Van Lingle Mungo

          6 months ago

          And he’s a dodger. Hell yeah!

          Reply
    • Wire to wire 2024

      6 months ago

      If he wanted leverage he wouldn’t have eliminated 20+ teams from the running, teams with even more funds than the jays.

      1
      Reply
      • Dustyslambchops23

        6 months ago

        Saying ‘I’ll sign somewhere else’ isn’t leverage.

        Saying ‘it’s a coin flip between Toronto but they have 2 million extra dollars’ is

        Reply
    • friesTO

      6 months ago

      it’s not the Dodgers decision on their cap size

      1
      Reply
      • Dustyslambchops23

        6 months ago

        They could acquire more like the jays did

        Reply
        • BlueSkies_LA

          6 months ago

          And they still can.

          1
          Reply
        • Wire to wire 2024

          6 months ago

          He obviously has interest in Toronto or they wouldn’t be one of the finalists

          Reply
        • Dustyslambchops23

          6 months ago

          And probably will

          Reply
        • Dustyslambchops23

          6 months ago

          Not necessarily. Agents have been using Toronto as leverage for years.

          Ohtani was absolutely never coming to Toronto, but this FO is so desperate they never back out.

          Reply
        • Rexhudler86

          6 months ago

          @dusty. Dodgers can match or get close. Jays can still add around 1m. That’s his request is my guess otherwise they could’ve added it in straw deal.

          Reply
        • Dustyslambchops23

          6 months ago

          Jays have about 2m more in their intl pool than the dodgers right now

          Reply
        • Rexhudler86

          6 months ago

          @dusty. Correct but they also have more because they weren’t penalized. If that wasn’t want he wanted. i guess someone screwed up. They have 1 million more(roughly) i haven’t busted out the calculator.

          Reply
        • Dustyslambchops23

          6 months ago

          Dodgers traded for more pool money in response to this, exactly I suggested

          Reply
        • Rexhudler86

          6 months ago

          @dusty. Never said they couldn’t was just following the bread crumbs. Now I’m wondering why the jays acquired 2 million. They must like this international class or whoever the dodgers had.

          Reply
    • Show all 28 replies
  48. unpaidobserver

    6 months ago

    Check the flight logs.

    3
    Reply
  49. BlueSkies_LA

    6 months ago

    No. They can’t offer him an extension until he’s eligible for arbitration.

    3
    Reply
  50. kodion

    6 months ago

    If this keeps up, we can start calling the Jays, not just the front office, the Cleveland Castoffs!

    1
    Reply
  51. Miken31

    6 months ago

    I don’t mean this in a snarky way. I’m genuinely curious. What is the draw for Sasaki to the Blue Jays? Anyone have insight into this? I don’t think he will end up there, but what makes them one of three finalists?

    1
    Reply
    • yeasties

      6 months ago

      For Ohtani, part of the argument was that Toronto broadcasts over the entire Canadian market, so he potentially would have nationwide endorsement opportunities. I have no idea how big or small that advantage is. Otherwise, I don’t get it either.

      1
      Reply
    • Seamaholic

      6 months ago

      Great city, very international (huge Japanese and Asian population). Low pressure generally. Wealthiest owners in sport (or 2nd to Dodgers). Chance to break new ground for a Japanese star in a city with lots of media connections to Asia. Makes all the sense in the world actually.

      3
      Reply
      • Miken31

        6 months ago

        With that logic you would think free agents, particularly Asian, would be flocking to go there, but that hasn’t happened.

        Reply
        • Avory

          6 months ago

          Somebody has to blaze the trail. International players have traditionally enjoyed playing in Canada, especially Montreal. Would not be surprised if Sasaki chose Toronto at all.

          Reply
        • Dustyslambchops23

          6 months ago

          That’s because it’s not true. While Toronto has a very big Asian population, the Japanese population is quite small, about 40-60,000 Japanese people in the GTA.

          1
          Reply
        • jimmertee

          6 months ago

          @Miken31 Why free agents aren’t beating the door down in Toronto is that Toronto and Canada have amazing benefits but players have to work for Shapiro and Atkins and an analytics department that took a pticher out ofter a few innings when he was throwing seeds. The organization is run by stupidity and the players know it.

          2
          Reply
        • Jays_Jen

          6 months ago

          It’s not just TO…need to think about Vancouver, too.

          Reply
    • JackStrawb

      6 months ago

      Toronto is a world-class, cosmopolitan city, albeit architecturally bland given it doesn’t have much of a history.

      Strong international presence, albeit lacking the world class strip clubs of Montreal.

      1
      Reply
      • Miken31

        6 months ago

        Lol

        Yeah, I’ve never been to Toronto, but I heard it’s a very nice city. I guess I was wondering more baseball wise why a player would choose to go there, particularly a Japanese player. Some people have provided some insight into that which I guess makes sense but it’s still a bit of a mystery to me.

        Reply
    • Jaysfansince92

      6 months ago

      There could be a few reasons he’s considering them. He’s had problems with injuries and the Jays starting rotation has been one of the healthiest in the league for the last few seasons. It seems like they’re pretty good at keeping them healthy.

      Another possible reason is that he’s had a very adversarial relationship with the media over his career (apparently things got pretty bad after they found out he was planning on leaving for MLB early) and the Jays owners Rogers communications owns pretty much all the media in Canada. They’re possibly the only team that can guarantee he won’t be getting negative attention from the media.

      2
      Reply
  52. SHARKmapiro

    6 months ago

    Obviously if the Jays miss out on Sasaki the “fans” will go after Shapiro and Atkins but ironically they’re doing everything they should be doing. Look at the Giminez and Hoffman moves in the light of trying to impress Sasaki: best defense up the middle in MLB (to help keep era down and wins/war up) and filling their biggest hole: closer. Now, they still need another bat but there’s time to fill that gap. I like the aggressive pursuit by the Jays and let’s hope this is a precursor to closing the deal!

    2
    Reply
    • Dustyslambchops23

      6 months ago

      Your boy Atkinds took on a bad contract for an all glove no bat player for bonus money only to be used as leverage to get Roki a few more mil from the dodgers.

      Absolutely embarrassing, you may be the only “fan” atkins has left

      Reply
      • SHARKmapiro

        6 months ago

        Cry more about it

        Reply
        • Dustyslambchops23

          6 months ago

          Your boy atkins is the one crying. His only fangirl left is you

          Reply
        • SHARKmapiro

          6 months ago

          Straw is going to be the comeback player of the year, just wait and see. Lol. Also keep crying because he didn’t sign with Toronto. He didn’t sign with 28 other teams and their fans aren’t crying like you

          Reply
  53. Waz1

    6 months ago

    Not happy that Cleveland gave away $2MM in signing bonus money. $2MM should get you a pretty decent international player (granted they are teenagers). But Cleveland doesn’t go after the top international players. I’d love for the writers to ask the FO about their approach.

    Reply
    • Fernando P

      6 months ago

      @Wazi – They do eliminate around 12M owed to Straw for that 2M in bonus pool money.

      Reply
    • JackStrawb

      6 months ago

      It was considered a fairly weak int’l class this go-round. For what CLE could get, they probably thought dumping off the $13.975m they owed Straw (minus 3-4m they sent with him to TOR) was worth it.

      Reply
  54. terry g

    6 months ago

    I find it interesting that Sasaki finds his way into almost all articles lately. He’s very good but he’s only one pitcher and not even a stat yet.

    1
    Reply
  55. Fernando P

    6 months ago

    Would be nice to see Toronto finally get someone, though still expecting the Dodgers.

    Waiting to be pleasantly surprised even if that means Sasaki in Yankee division.

    Reply
  56. Mickey Solis

    6 months ago

    End the charade. Another Japanese sellout leveraging everyone else to sign up with his d*ddy. Clown bandwagon Dodgers fans about to come out of the woodwork to defending their team’s “honor” even though people are close to stopping watching MLB. This league is pathetic.

    1
    Reply
    • Seamaholic

      6 months ago

      More people watch MLB than ever before. At least in person. TV ratings are down in all sports.

      Reply
    • jimmertee

      6 months ago

      @Mickey, you are correct about the sellout leveraging other clubs to sign with the Dodgers, whether it is getting more bonus pool money or a handshake deal, which is very real in MLB.

      1
      Reply
  57. kenly0

    6 months ago

    So, it says that teams can trade for 250k increments. But, says they’re getting 2 million. How?

    Reply
    • SHARKmapiro

      6 months ago

      250,500,750,1000…2,000

      5
      Reply
    • Ballstothewall

      6 months ago

      You answered your own question unless you don’t know what an increment is

      1
      Reply
  58. Geebs

    6 months ago

    is this front office capable of trading with another front office that isn’t cleveland? like really, did atkins lose his contact list or something

    Reply
  59. whyhayzee

    6 months ago

    Straw launches a bomb once every 330 plate appearances.

    1
    Reply
    • Renotribefan

      6 months ago

      Stop exaggerating already.

      It’s WAY more ABs between homers than that! 🙂

      Reply
  60. Whyme

    6 months ago

    Shatkins h8 offense and like to torture fans with some of the worst baseball around.

    Reply
  61. Smelly_Cobb

    6 months ago

    Please Roki, make the people’s choice (Toronto)

    2
    Reply
  62. terrymesmer

    6 months ago

    Team international bonus pool money, according to recent reporting by MLB Network:

    LAD: $5.15M (tied with the Giants for the lowest in MLB)
    SDP: $6.3M (reported they are about to sign other international players)
    TOR: $8.26M (seems now to be the largest pool in MLB)

    NOTE: Eight clubs had been tied for the highest bonus pool figure at $7.6 million

    1
    Reply
  63. jwinker

    6 months ago

    Are the jays allergic to bats?

    Reply
  64. Fernando P

    6 months ago

    With Munetaka Murakami a true free agent next year, it sets up as a Japanese player that has no free spot on the Dodgers (Freeman 1b, Ohtani DH).

    Now if the Jays get Sasaki and lose Guerrero, that could make them a destination for Murakami. Yankees also have been interested in him and have 1b opening next year.

    Reply
  65. jimmertee

    6 months ago

    Jays stink of desperation and will probably not end up with Sasaki. Myles Straw needs vitamins.

    Sasaki to Los Angeles.

    3
    Reply
  66. CO Guardening

    6 months ago

    Everyone talking Roki implications. Who else here is glad to see Straw shipped out?

    3
    Reply
    • BlueSkies_LA

      6 months ago

      Seems like a classic straw man argument.

      Reply
      • CO Guardening

        6 months ago

        His baserunning was the Straw that broke the camels back.

        Reply
  67. DarrenDreifortsContract

    6 months ago

    lol

    Reply
  68. Renotribefan

    6 months ago

    Good move by Cleveland getting the Jays to take Straw when they thought they had a chance at Sasaki.

    1
    Reply
  69. high_upside

    6 months ago

    Might as well just DFA him now.

    Reply
  70. ParkerIsMakingMessick

    6 months ago

    Toronto. What a joke, Straw is horrible.

    Reply
    • debubba

      6 months ago

      Doesn’t Antonetti to have dirt on Shapiro? I’m amazed at this keeps happening.

      Reply
  71. Indianfan

    6 months ago

    Most MLB franchises spend the off season trying to improve their teams. Not Cleveland, The Guardians spend the off season trying to improve their bottom line. The AL Central basement is calling

    1
    Reply
    • waittilnextyear

      6 months ago

      Yep. Was kinda hoping Straw would make up for the home runs lost in the Naylor trade

      1
      Reply
    • hockeyjohn

      6 months ago

      Over the past decade, Cleveland has the 4th highest winning percentage in MLB. To say the don’t try to improve their team is just a ridiculous comment.

      Reply
      • debubba

        6 months ago

        To add, in the last 20 years, they are top 8 in overall wins. The only other small market team to do this is the Rays. They stay competitive even though they are making 130 mil less per year than the Dodgers in TV rights. This team has been run very effectively with the resources they get.
        Besides, it not your money. If you want to root for a team like that the Yankees and Dodgers are where your loyalties should lie.

        1
        Reply
        • CO Guardening

          6 months ago

          Couldn’t have said it better. “The Dolan’s are cheap” is tired and untrue. In any business you have to make money to spend money. Spending 40% of income on player payroll is not cheap.

          Reply
    • Bob Sacamano 310

      6 months ago

      Your team shedding a contract like Myles Straw and being upset about that is weird.

      Reply
  72. ripperlv

    6 months ago

    Very cunning of the Jays to nab Straw and his 13 million dollar salary.

    Reply
  73. Dumpster Divin Theo

    6 months ago

    He fast

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.

Log in Register

  • Top Stories
  • Recent

Kyle Gibson Announces Retirement

Yankees Interested In Mitch Keller

Pirates Trade Adam Frazier To Royals

Mets, Yankees Among Teams To Show Recent Interest In David Robertson

Stuart Sternberg Has Agreed To Sell Rays To Patrick Zalupski, Deal Expected To Be Final By September

Nationals Select Eli Willits With First Pick Of 2025 Amateur Draft

2025 MLB Draft, First Round Results

Red Sox Place Hunter Dobbins On 15-Day IL Due To ACL Tear

Astros Promote Brice Matthews

Red Sox Likely To Activate Alex Bregman Tomorrow

Phillies Reportedly Targeting Controllable Relievers

Yankees Prioritizing Pitching, Also Searching For Infield Help

Orioles Trade Bryan Baker To Rays

Yankees Release DJ LeMahieu

Trevor Williams To Undergo UCL Surgery

Nationals Fire PBO Mike Rizzo, Manager Dave Martinez

Brewers Activate Brandon Woodruff

Clarke Schmidt Expected To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

Bobby Jenks Passes Away

Braves Release Alex Verdugo

Brewers Outright Drew Avans

Red Sox, Ronaldo Hernandez Agree To Minor League Deal

Trade Deadline Outlook: Detroit Tigers

Kyle Gibson Announces Retirement

Corbin Martin Elects Free Agency

Yankees Interested In Mitch Keller

Poll: Which Team Should Be Most Aggressive For Eugenio Suarez?

Rays Select Joey Gerber

Orioles Have Listened To Offers On Trevor Rogers, Felix Bautista

Trade Deadline Outlook: Boston Red Sox

MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

Latest Rumors & News

Latest Rumors & News

  • Sandy Alcantara Rumors
  • Luis Robert Rumors
  • Alex Bregman Rumors

 

Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android App Store Google Play

MLBTR Features

MLBTR Features

  • Remove Ads, Support Our Writers
  • Front Office Originals
  • Front Office Fantasy Baseball
  • MLBTR Podcast
  • Trade Deadline Outlook Series
  • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
  • Contract Tracker
  • Transaction Tracker
  • Extension Tracker
  • Agency Database
  • MLBTR On Twitter
  • MLBTR On Facebook
  • Team Facebook Pages
  • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

Rumors By Team

  • Angels Rumors
  • Astros Rumors
  • Athletics Rumors
  • Blue Jays Rumors
  • Braves Rumors
  • Brewers Rumors
  • Cardinals Rumors
  • Cubs Rumors
  • Diamondbacks Rumors
  • Dodgers Rumors
  • Giants Rumors
  • Guardians Rumors
  • Mariners Rumors
  • Marlins Rumors
  • Mets Rumors
  • Nationals Rumors
  • Orioles Rumors
  • Padres Rumors
  • Phillies Rumors
  • Pirates Rumors
  • Rangers Rumors
  • Rays Rumors
  • Red Sox Rumors
  • Reds Rumors
  • Rockies Rumors
  • Royals Rumors
  • Tigers Rumors
  • Twins Rumors
  • White Sox Rumors
  • Yankees Rumors

Navigation

  • Sitemap
  • Archives
  • RSS/Twitter Feeds By Team

MLBTR INFO

  • Advertise
  • About
  • Commenting Policy
  • Privacy Policy

Connect

  • Contact Us
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • RSS Feed

MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

hide arrows scroll to top

Register

Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version