Key facts
- Myles Straw carries an $8 million club option for his age-32 season (2027)
- 2026 stats: 0.6 bWAR across 245 at-bats, 3 home runs, .229 batting average, .632 OPS, 74 OPS+
- Blue Jays 1.5 games out of AL Wild Card as of September 2026
- Straw is regarded as a strong clubhouse presence despite lackluster offensive production
- Brett Bateman’s arrival has brought new spark to Toronto’s outfield
The decision at hand
The Toronto Blue Jays face a difficult offseason decision regarding outfielder Myles Straw. According to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, Straw holds an $8 million club option that the team must decide whether to exercise for the 2027 season, when he will be 32 years old.
2026 performance
Straw’s statistical production this season has been underwhelming offensively. Through 245 at-bats in 2026, he accumulated 0.6 bWAR with three home runs, a .229 batting average, a .632 OPS, and a 74 OPS+. His offensive output has not matched the salary being considered.
The competing factors
Straw’s value to the Blue Jays is mixed. He is widely regarded as a significant clubhouse presence with solid defensive work, both attributes the organization values. However, his offensive struggles present a counterargument to keeping him at $8 million for another year. The arrival of Brett Bateman has also brought a fresh element to Toronto’s outfield, giving the team additional depth options to consider.
Where the team stands
The 2026 season has been disappointing for the Blue Jays overall. Vladimir Guerrero has experienced a major regression, and several other key players have underperformed. Despite these struggles, Toronto remained just 1.5 games out of the AL Wild Card as September began, keeping playoff hopes alive.
What could influence the choice
Straw’s final weeks of the 2026 season may inform the decision. If he can finish strong with even a month of league-average offensive performance in September, exercising the option would be more straightforward. Conversely, if his offensive struggles persist through season’s end, the Blue Jays will face a genuinely difficult choice about whether to commit $8 million to a 32-year-old whose on-field production does not justify the cost.
Sources
Featured photo: Dillan Payne via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)