Toronto acquired $2 million in international signing bonus pool allocation from the Cleveland Guardians that could be used in its pursuit of Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki as part of a trade that also brought underperforming outfielder Myles Straw to the Blue Jays.

The Guardians have dealt another player to Toronto. The team announced Friday morning that outfielder Myles Straw had been traded to the Blue Jays along with international bonus pool money and cash in exchange for a player to be named or cash.

The Blue Jays are adding another chapter to their book of “almosts” when it comes to signing free agents, as they watched 23-year-old Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki choose the Los Angeles Dodgers as his first MLB home.

Myles Straw had become an afterthought for the Cleveland Guardians after barely appearing with them during the 2024 MLB season.

The Toronto Blue Jays acquired outfielder Myles Straw from the Cleveland Guardians yesterday afternoon along with $3.75 million in cash and $2 million in international bonus pool money.

The transaction, announced by the Guardians on X, also includes the transfer of international bonus pool space to Toronto.

Myles Straw is the latest Cleveland Guardians star departing Ohio, as the outfielder was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday.

The Blue Jays acquired Myles Straw, cash, and international bonus pool space from the Guardians. Cleveland gets a PTBNL or cash. Read more at MLB Trade Rumors.

The Blue Jays’ path back to the postseason begins with amassing young talent. They may not have landed their white whale – No. 1 international prospect Roki Sasaki – but they believe they’ve still added impact potential with shortstop Cristopher Polanco,

The Toronto Blue Jays' meeting with Japanese pitcher Rōki Sasaki included shortstop Bo Bichette, outfielder Daulton Varsho and reliever Chad Green,

This story was excerpted from Keegan Matheson's Blue Jays Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.