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SALE? WHAT SALE?

The Canadian Press reported on Thursday that executives at Rogers Communications say there is no plan to sell the Jays. Reports surfaced last year that the company may have been planning to sell.

The future of the franchise was raised this week in Rogers’ fourth-quarter conference call and CFO Anthony Staffieri said there are no plans to sell.

Staffieri added, according to the CP report, that Rogers management would like to find a way for the value of the team to be reflected in parent company’s stock price.

BIAGINI PENCILLED IN

Atkins would not comment on reports that the Jays are interested in free agent right-hander Chris Tillman.

Jon Morosi of MLB Network reported on Sportsnet 590 The Fan that there has been some conversation between the Jays and the 29-year-old pitcher.

“There’s nothing I can say (about that),” Atkins said. “(But we are) looking to complement our pitching.”

Right-handed pitcher Joe Biagini is the No.1 option to be the fifth starter at this point, though MLB Network has 23-year-old left-hander Ryan Borucki penciled in at that role for 2018.

Atkins said Borucki will likely start the season at triple-A after making a very successful jump up to double-A last year. In seven starts at New Hampshire, Borucki posted a 1.94 ERA with 42 strikeouts in 46.1 innings pitched.

“I think we’re excited about having a lot of different options and I think the most likely scenario is that Joe Biagini has a lead on that spot and we’ll look to see if there is a way to upgrade, complement, supplement,” Atkins said. “Ryan Borucki will most likely be in triple-A but we never limit anybody. He has some of the best intangibles of any our prospects.”

CRUZIN’ INTO SPRING

The Jays have signed RHP Rhiner Cruz to a minor-league deal and invited him to spring training. The 31-year-old Cruz was the top overall selection in the Rule 5 Draft by the Astros in 2011 and spent much of the two subsequent seasons in the pen.

sbuffery@postmedia.com