Blue Jays free agent target: Myles Straw

While the Toronto Blue Jays have declined Myles Straw’s option for 2027, it does not fully mean that the door is forever closed on the outfielder potentially rejoining the club.

Straw was originally a contract the team took on to get international money, which was ideally set to be used to sign Roki Sasaki, who chose the Los Angeles Dodgers instead. Straw, in 137 games in 2025, actually had a strong season by his standards, as he had four home runs, 32 RBI, and a 2.8 WAR.

In 2026, Straw did not have the best season like several Blue Jays, as he only recorded 26 RBIs in the season and finished with an OPS of .646, down .34 points from the previous season. His wRC+ was only 83 last season, down from 91 the previous season. While 2026 was a bad year for mostly all Blue Jays hitters, Straw was an incredibly streaky hitter, as he fluctuated from month to month. However, his second half was more promising as he finished the month hitting .300 with four RBI in 22 games.

As for Straw’s defence, that’s where he is mostly known for. The 2022 Gold Glove winner proved he was more than capable in the field regardless of which spot in the outfield he played. He made some highlight-reel catches this past season and took on the role of veteran outfielder to the likes of young rookie Brett Bateman, among some other names.

While you’re not getting an elite five-tool player with Straw, you are getting someone capable who can play every single outfield spot. As far as a platoon/fourth outfielder goes, you can do much worse, and the front office is for sure keeping notes with the limited free agent pool this coming winter.  Straw coming back as a true possibility for the Blue Jays if they can work with him on a deal that is fair but also cost-effective for the club. Having a backup centre fielder who can also play each corner very well could prove useful for a team that truly values depth and position flexibility.