Report: Jays Offered Steven Matz a 3-Year Deal

The Toronto Blue Jays were willing to offer Steven Matz a three-year deal worth approximately $35 millions before he signed with the St. Louis Cardinals

The Toronto Blue Jays were reportedly a year short in the Steven Matz sweepstakes.

Toronto reportedly offered Matz a three-year deal worth something in the mid-$30 million range, according to Jon Morosi. However, the 30-year-old left-hander opted for the long term, agreeing to a four-year deal with the St. Louis Cardinals, per multiple reports.

Matz was a revelation for the Blue Jays last season, bouncing back from a career-worst 9.68 ERA in 2020 with the New York Mets to post a 3.82 ERA across 150.2 innings in Toronto this past year. The resurgence came courtesy of some better home run luck, a few minor mechanical adjustments, and a heavier reliance on his sinker and slider.

Toronto had reportedly offered Matz a multi-year deal prior to free agency before declining to offer him the qualifying offer, a one-year, $18 million deal. 

Further Reading

Report: Blue Jays interested in Kevin Gausman

Report: Unvaccinated MLB players may be unable to enter Canada to play Blue Jays in 2022

Ohtani's historic season outshines Semien and Guerrero Jr. for AL MVP