Report: Blue Jays, Estrada talking multi-year deal

Though the Toronto Blue Jays extended a one-year, $15.8-million qualifying offer to Marco Estrada last week, the reigning division champions are reportedly interested in keeping the veteran right-hander around beyond 2016.

According to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, the Blue Jays are discussing a multi-year deal with Estrada, who has until Friday to either accept or reject the qualifying offer. He is still free to negotiate a multi-year contract with the Blue Jays, though, if he rejects the qualifying offer. Toronto will receive a compensatory pick in the 2016 draft if he turns down the offer and signs elsewhere as a free agent.

"We'd love to have him back," Blue Jays interim general manager Tony LaCava said. "He was a big part of our success this year."

Acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers last offseason, Estrada opened the season in the bullpen, but ended up starting 28 games for Toronto after joining the rotation in May. The 32-year-old crafted a 3.28 ERA (80 ERA-) with a 1.06 WHIP after being moved into a starting role, though he managed just a 2.40 strikeout-to-walk ratio and allowed 1.22 home runs per nine innings.

Estrada delivered in the postseason, too, crafting a 2.33 ERA with a 15:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio in three starts while helping Toronto avoid elimination in Game 3 of the American League Division Series and Game 5 of the ALCS.