Blue Jays avoid arbitration with Loup, exchange figures with Stroman

Hazel Mae and Shi Davidi take a look at what’s up with the Toronto Blue Jays this week.

The Toronto Blue Jays avoided arbitration with Aaron Loup Friday, agreeing to terms on a one-year deal worth $1.125 million for 2017, an industry source told Sportsnet.

However, the club did not reach an agreement with right-hander Marcus Stroman in advance of the 1 pm ET deadline for exchanging figures.

Instead, the Blue Jays will either go to a hearing with Stroman or work out a multi-year agreement, as they did with Josh Donaldson this time last year. Even without resolution on his 2017 salary, Stroman remains under team control for four seasons through 2020.

Loup, who’s on track for free agent eligibility following the 2018 season, obtains a modest raise following a season in which he earned $1.05 million. He had been projected to earn $1.2 million in arbitration by MLB Trade Rumors.

Loup began the 2016 season on the disabled list and ultimately split the year between triple-A and the big leagues. The 29-year-old posted a 5.02 ERA in 21 games for the Blue Jays while striking out 15 opponents. Now that Brett Cecil has signed in St. Louis, he projects as the top left-hander in Toronto’s bullpen.

The Blue Jays avoided arbitration with Ezequiel Carrera and Darwin Barney Thursday.

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