According to the MLB.com transaction record, the Guardians sent outfielder Myles Straw outright to Triple-A Columbus. Cleveland successfully waived him after the offseason began, eliminating him from the 40-man roster.
Straw’s contract guaranteed he would go unclaimed. A team would have had to accept the remaining $14.75 million in guaranteed money. Straw has passed two waivers this year. Cleveland purchased him outright soon before Opening Day. He spent nearly the whole season in Triple-A. The Guards re-signed him in mid-September, although they apparently intended to remove him from the roster at the end of the year.
Cleveland signed Straw to the contract early in the 2022 season. He had a terrific year in 2021, hitting.271/.349/.348 while swiping 30 bases and playing excellent center field defense. The Guardians reasoned that despite his lack of power, his speed and glove provided him with a good foundation. His bat significantly deteriorated over the next two seasons. From 2022 to 2023, Straw hit only one home run and had a.229/.296/.284 line. He also struggled in Triple-A this year, hitting.240/.321/.329 against upper minors pitching.
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Straw, who has less than five years of major league experience, would opt out of his contract to test the waters of free agency. He is clearly not going to do that, so the Guards can keep him at Triple-A as a depth option. He only appeared in seven MLB games this season, recording one hit in four at-bats. He stole two bases in as many attempts.
