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Rumor Central: Blue Jays unlikely to trade Marco Estrada?

The Toronto Blue Jays reportedly are in no rush to deal starter Marco Estrada this month.

According to Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports, the Blue Jays "have little interest" in trading Estrada even though Jon Morosi of MLB Network reported that an unknown team recently had claimed the veteran right-hander on revocable waivers.

Toronto and the mystery team -- which SB Nation's Chris Cotillo indicated may share the same division as the Blue Jays -- have 48 hours from when the waiver claim was awarded to work out a trade. If no deal materializes, Toronto either can allow the interested team to absorb Estrada’s contract or instead pull him back.

Estrada, 34, sports a 4.85 ERA this season, but has pitched better of late -- posting a 2.08 ERA over his last four starts. His 11.4 percent swinging-strike rate currently is above his career average and he's demonstrating usual velocity, but opposing hitters have rattled him for a .305 batting average on balls in play this year.

The native of Mexico is earning $14.5 million in the final year of his contract, although he's due roughly $3.5 million the rest of the way. Estrada won’t be eligible for a qualifying offer this winter because he already has signed one previously with the Blue Jays, who enter Tuesday 3.5 games out of the second American League wild card slot.

-- Nick Ostiller

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