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Marco Estrada, Toronto Blue Jays
2015 salary: $3.9 million
Estrada is coming off the best season of his career. He led the league in allowing only 6.7 hits per nine. The 32-year-old right-hander recorded a 3.13 ERA, and was consistent all season. Estrada flirted with a no-hitter and perfect game.
Estrada will turn 33 next July. The rest of the league may not know exactly what to make of a starting pitcher without a real track record. Estrada’s FIP of 4.40 would indicate that there may be significant room for regression in 2016 and beyond. Having earned less than $11 million for his entire career, a raise to $15.8 million should be awfully attractive for Estrada. However, with the Blue Jays likely losing David Price, Estrada will likely make a pact with Toronto on a three-year deal in the neighborhood of $36-42 million.
I expect Lackey to get something like 2/30 or 3/40 on the market. It doesn’t make sense for him to take the QO. I do think he re-ups with the Cardinals regardless. It seems like a good fit for Lackey and the Cards.