Blue Jays' Straw in midst of career season after almost quitting baseball

Around this time last year, Myles Straw was considering retiring from professional baseball at the age of 29.

He'd spent the entire season up to that point playing for the triple-A Columbus Clippers, the minor-league affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians, after clearing outright waivers in March 2024. If Straw wasn't going to be playing in the major leagues, he'd rather be focusing on his home life.

"I didn't want to really play baseball anymore. I was almost through with it," Straw told reporters on Sunday. "I thought of my daughter a lot.

"I just wanted to be with family, but I knew there was more left in the tank."

Straw was a September call-up to the Guardians on Sept. 17, playing in seven games with one hit and two runs in four at-bats. He was then traded to Toronto on Jan. 17, along with cash and international signing pool space, in exchange for a player to be named later.

The deal wasn't really about Straw, as the Blue Jays appeared to be getting that bonus pool space to try and land Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki, but the free agent chose the Los Angeles Dodgers instead.

Straw, however, saw it as an opportunity to revitalize his career, especially after a phone call with Toronto hitting coach David Popkins shortly after the trade was done.

"I remember him just talking to me and pumping some confidence into me, and we had some good talks then," said Straw, who had a .462 batting average for the Blue Jays in Grapefruit League play. "Getting to spring training and being close to home, that was a good start.

"Just kind of getting to know the team and the guys made it enjoyable. I'm thankful that I'm here."

Straw made the Blue Jays' major-league roster to start the season and has been a regular in Toronto's outfield,