The Toronto Blue Jays made an effort to retain Steven Matz, but they reportedly do not plan to tender the left-handed starter a qualifying offer, according to MLB Network's Jon Heyman.
In the days leading up to Sunday - the deadline for teams to make qualifying offers to their pending free agents - the Blue Jays reportedly did extend Matz a multi-year offer, Heyman adds. Toronto did not disclose the deal's terms.
Matz, 30, is coming off a one-year, $5.2-million contract in his final season of arbitration eligibility. The former second-round pick authored a bounce-back campaign with a 3.82 ERA and 3.79 FIP over 150 2/3 innings in his sole year with the Jays. Matz spent the previous six seasons with the New York Mets.
MLB clubs have until 5:00 p.m. ET on Sunday to tender a one-year, $18.4-million contract to their eligible players on expiring deals. A player will become a free agent if they reject the offer within 10 days, but the incumbent team will recuperate draft-pick compensation if the player signs elsewhere.
While Toronto won't make that offer to Matz, the club did tender deals to both left-handed starter Robbie Ray and second baseman Marcus Semien.
