The Toronto Blue Jays acquired unperforming outfielder Myles Straw and $2 million in international signing bonus pool allocation from the Cleveland Guardians in a trade on Friday. The money could have been used by Toronto in its pursuit of Roki Sasaki,

The push to sign Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki is on, with the Toronto Blue Jays adding to their international signing bonus pool following Friday’s trade with the Cleveland Guardians.

The Toronto Blue Jays acquired outfielder Myles Straw in a deal with the Cleveland Guardians on Friday. Toronto received Straw, $3.75 million US cash considerations and $2 million in international signing bonus pool space for the 2025 period from Cleveland, which received a player to be named later or cash considerations.

The recent trade between the Cleveland Guardians and Toronto Blue Jays could hold weight as Roki Sasaki nears a decision.

As far back as January, 2024, Japan’s pitching phenomenon, 23-year-old Roki Sasaki, stated that he had “the desire to play in the U.S. Major Leagues in the future,” and that his Japanese Pacific League club the Chiba Lotte Marines understood his position.

The reigning champion Dodgers and Blue Jays are the final teams standing from a pool that included the Yankees, Mets, Cubs, Rangers and Giants — with the Padres being taken out of the equation on Friday, according to Francys Romero.

Prized Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki says in an Instagram post he intends to sign with the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. A 23-year-old right-hander whose fastball tops 100 mph,

Prized Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki says in an Instagram post he intends to sign with the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. A 23-year-old right-hander whose fastball tops 100 mph, Sasaki will join fellow Japanese stars Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

The Toronto Blue Jays made a trade Friday, acquiring international bonus money from the Cleveland Guardians to up their Roki Sasaki offer.

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.

Cleveland agreed to a long-term deal in April 2022 with Straw, but he hit just .221 with no homers, 32 RBIs and 21 stolen bases that year, then batted .238 with one homer, 29 RBIs and 20 steals in 2023.