TORONTO - Marco Estrada will help the Toronto Blue Jays defend their American League East pennant next season.

Estrada and the Blue Jays agreed to a two-year deal worth US$26 million on Friday, helping the 32-year-old right-handed pitcher avoid free agency and reinforce Toronto's starting rotation.

"We certainly think that he's going to be a quality Major League starter, we think that he can maintain that level of performance," said Blue Jays general manager Tony LaCava on a media conference call. "Maybe not to the level that he did this year, but certainly someone we can count on going forward that can help us defend the AL East title.

"We think he can definitely continue with the success that he had this year."

Estrada appeared in 34 games last season, including a career-high 28 starts, reaching career bests in earned-run average (3.13), wins (13), strikeouts (131), innings pitched (181.0) and WHIP (1.04). His .203 opponents' average led the AL, while ranking fourth in Major League Baseball. The native of Sonora, Mexico, limited opposing teams to a .183 average following the All-Star break, ranking first in MLB.

His dominance continued in the post-season, earning a 2-1 record with a 2.33 ERA, the lowest among all starters in the playoffs in 2015. It was the lowest post-season ERA by a Blue Jays starter since Juan Guzman had a 1.71 ERA in 1992.

Estrada earned his first win of the post-season as Toronto faced elimination in Game 3 of the AL Division Series against the Texas Rangers. His second win again kept the Blue Jays alive in the playoffs, earning a 7-1 decision over the Kansas City Royals in Game 5 of the AL Championship Series.

"He continued to get stronger and stronger throughout the season," said LaCava. "He earned his right to free agency through his time in the major leagues and he's earned this contract. We're really happy for him."

Estrada was traded to Toronto by the Milwaukee Brewers for designated hitter/first baseman Adam Lind on Nov. 1, 2014. He and the Blue Jays avoided salary arbitration when he agreed to a one-year, $3.9 million contract on Jan. 16.

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After competing for the fifth starter's role in Toronto's rotation in spring training, Estrada began the regular season in the bullpen. After the Blue Jays optioned Daniel Norris to the triple-A Buffalo Bisons on May 1, Estrada was moved into the starting rotation.

"I've got to admit, I think that when we got Marco last year we definitely had interest in him, but to say that we thought he'd start the AL Championship Series for us, I think that would've been something none of us would've expected," said LaCava. "He came in as a guy who wasn't even in our initial rotation but within a month he did enter the rotation and he never looked back."

Estrada was issued a qualifying offer by the Blue Jays, which would have been $15.8 million for a one-year term. He had until Friday to either accept or reject that deal before becoming a free agent. LaCava would not get in to the specifics of Estrada's contract beyond the term and the total cost.

The newly appointed Blue Jays general manager said that with the Estrada deal done Toronto has a five-man rotation in place consisting of Estrada, Marcus Stroman, R.A. Dickey, and possibly Drew Hutchison, Aaron Sanchez or Roberto Osuna but that the team would continue to explore other options.

"We do have enough in terms of having five (pitchers) but I think we're going to continue to try to add to that," said LaCava. "We're definitely going to continue to try to add to that group but there are five guys and they're capable guys."