In the off-season, spots on the 40-man roster become particularly valuable.
At a time in which teams want to add talent, they need the room to do it.
In the specific case of the Cleveland Guardians, they had the chance of creating a roster spot by putting outfielder Myles Straw through waivers and, if he went unclaimed, send him to Triple-A.
That’s exactly what they did according to MLB Trade Rumors.
Guardians Outright Myles Straw https://t.co/VYYyji1FKD pic.twitter.com/cuCqxqZb7G
— MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) November 2, 2024
There was no chance of a team claiming Straw from waivers given the fact he still has over $14 million left on the five-year, $25 million pact he signed early in 2022.
After slashing .271/.349/.348 with 30 stolen bases and plus defense in center field in 2021, the Guards felt the need to extend him
It has all gone south since he inked the deal, though.
Per MLB Trade Rumors, Straw has struggled to a .229/.296/.284 line in 2022-23 and spent most of the 2024 campaign in Triple-A, where he also slumped badly.
Yes, Straw remains a fantastic fielder and a solid, lightning-quick baserunner.
However, he can’t hit and that 2021 campaign proved to be the exception rather than the rule.
Now, the Guardians are stuck with him in the minors because he is unplayable in the majors.
He is around as organizational depth, but Cleveland has shown an unwillingness to bring him up and it shows on his game log.
He played just seven games in MLB this year, starting one.
Straw will go down as a rare blunder by the otherwise excellent front office led by president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti.
NEXT: Lane Thomas Reveals His Honest Thoughts About City Of Cleveland
