Blue Jays to extend Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

11:14 p.m.: Shi Davidi de Sportsnet reports that the two parties have entered into an agreement on an agreement of $ 500 million over 14 years, pending a physique. Davidi reports that there is no deferred money in the agreement, making it the second agreement in the history of the MLB by the current net value behind that of Soto.

8:49 p.m.: Blue Jays and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. have played “they have been going, no” for a long time, but it seems that the look between the sides ends. Friday, Mike Rodriguez reported that the two parties were approaching an agreement on an extension of more than $ 500 million, and although no agreement still seems in place in USA Today, Bob Nighingale confirmed this morning that the teams discuss an agreement of a value of $ 500 million which would maintain Guerrero in Toronto for at least fourteen years while suggesting that “Perhaps”, the agreement would be concluded this week.

Jon Heyman of the New York Post joined the fray this evening, noting that the sources around his team “suggested” that the Jays work to conclude a 14 -year agreement in the range of $ 500 million while adding that an agreement could be concluded “soon”. Heyman then called the agreement as “apparently everything but and her” and added that “optimism is enormous” that an agreement will be concluded, although he stressed that GM Ross Atkins and Guerrero himself refused to comment. Guerrero’s most recent commentary on the issue was given to Jorge Castillo d’Espn, whom he said that he “knew nothing” on the state of the extension talks before emphasizing that he had always “left this to (his) agent” to the main agency.

Of course, Guerrero has rather established a deadline for the start of the spring formation which came and came without agreement. The parties have apparently continued to negotiate both in the eye of the media and in camera since then, however, with fairly specific reports concerning the requested price of Guerrero and a new offer of Jays on the surface. It is quite common that the contractual talks continue beyond the self-imposed deadlines if the sides are close enough, with Garrett Crochet Standing as a recent notable example of a player who established a difficult deadline (in his case, the day of the opening) for popular discussions before finally signing after this deadline. Jackson Merrill,, Ketel Marte,, Brandon PfaadtAnd Kristian Campbell Among the other players to have signed extensions since the start of the season which probably opened negotiations with their clubs during spring training.

The two previous discussions between the teams and the reports concerning the last executive were centered on a 14 -year pact. It is a reflection of Guerrero’s youth, because he just was 26 years old last month. It is a situation somewhat similar to Juan SotoWho struck the free agency just around its 26th birthday. Given his youth and his talent, he was able to transform a frantic free agency into a record contract of 15 years worth $ 765 million. On this kind of length, the Jays and Guerrero were not distant in February. A difference of $ 50 million over a 14 -year agreement would only be $ 3.57 million per year. A difference of $ 100 million would be $ 7.14 million a year. These are quite small numbers in terms of budget for an MLB club, so it was understandable that Shapiro and Atkins felt quite well to fill the gap to publicly suggest that they would sign Guerrero when everything was said and done.

Before moving Soto the goal posts, the reported value of $ 500 million from the Guerrero agreement and the Jays discuss it would have been a record agreement. Shohei Ohtani Signed a $ 700 million contract over ten years with the Dodgers just over a year ago. However, the massive postpones of this contract have considerably reduced the van. The league calculated its AAV 46.06 mm in dollars while the MLBPA fixed it at $ 43.78 mm. Ballparking The guarantee of around $ 450 million was still a record at the time, with Mookie Betts And its $ 365 million the previous superior warranty. Of course, Ohtani’s agreement went to a distant second with the Soto agreement and now Guerrero is apparently ready to pass him as well.

Guerrero’s history is not as elite as that of Soto, which is simply in a class that is its own as an offensive talent with a career WRC + (158) in the same stadium as the peak seasons of Guerrero. Even thus, his figures are quite good and he is only one more year; When Guerrero is at its best, it is easily the closest comparison to Soto in the game in terms of age and overall offensive capacity. For the Jays, he has been the face of the franchise for a long time. After appearances in the club’s qualifiers in 2015 and 2016, they participated in a rapid reconstruction period which allowed them to lose records for the next three years. As such, many fans have placed their hopes on a emerging nucleus of young perspectives like Guerrero, Bichette Bo and others.

His initial work of major leagues was good but not great, although it came at an age when most prospects still play at university or minors. He struck .269 / .336 / .442 during the 2019 and 2020 seasons for a 107 WRC +, indicating that it was 7% better than the average of the marble league. Holding in the big leagues during its 20 years and -21 seasons was always a notable achievement, however, even if it did not immediately play at star levels. Any doubt about his ability to reach the ceiling he flashed as a perspective was repressed in 2021, while he struck 48 circuits, made walks to a clip of 12.3% and only withdrew 15.8% of the time. His striking line .311 / .401 / .601 led to a WRC + of 166. He would have won the prize of the most precious player in the American League that year, if not for a season with an absurd double sense of Ohtani.

Guerrero has failed to transport this MVP caliber offensive production over his next two seasons. He struck a .269 / .341 / .462 combined in 2022 and 2023 for a 125 WRC +. Although it is still a strong production, it is obviously a drop in his 2021 and 2023 campaign in particular the throwing closer to pedestrians than superstar when he published an 118 WRC + with only 1.3 FWAR. Fortunately, Guerrero helped to stifle his skeptics when he increased things last year, reducing .323 / .396 / .544 for a 165 WRC + and finishing sixth in an al crowded MVP field.

This does not mean that there is no risk. Defense is questionable and he is not a burner on the basic paths. But he has already accomplished a lot with the bat at a young age. Its walking and withdrawal rates have always been better than average, with high power to start. On any kind of massive contract like this, the signature club probably knows that it will not seem virgin until the last season, because the tigers and the angels could tell you about it Miguel Cabrera And Albert Pujols. The Jays hope that they will get a lot of value from the first years of Guerrero, both in terms of value in the field and off scope, in order to relieve the pain of its possible decline.

We can say that it would have been cheaper to extend Guerrero earlier in his career, because players generally gain gain of gain as they get closer to the free agency. However, Guerrero’s oscillating results may have paused the Jays in its significant management. From Guerrero’s point of view, it was an incredibly talented perspective and on the right track to reach a free agency at such a young age, giving it an incentive to bet on itself. Finding a price likely on both sides would have been difficult.

The stars have apparently become recently aligned. Guerrero’s 2024 season seemed to prove that 2021 was not lucky. Meanwhile, the Jays tried to get mega agreements with other players and failed. They were strongly linked to Ohtani, Soto, Sasaki Roki And many other players who would have been acquisitions that made the headlines, but none of these activities took place. Until this Guerrero agreement becomes official, the greatest agreement in the history of the franchise is George SpringerGuarantee of $ 150 million on a six -year pact, which has now been over four years old. With Shapiro and Atkins would have both approached the ends of their respective contracts and the disappointing jays in 2024, it was suggested that they were under pressure for a great victory in public relations.

Since they were unable to obtain these big offers for free agents, this leaves them a future pay space to engage in Guerrero. He and Bichette are both planned for the free agency after 2025, just like Chris Bassitt,, Max Scherzer And Green Chad. After 2026, Springer, Kevin Gausman And Daulton Varsho are planned to arrive on the free market. José Berríos is under contract until 2028, but has an opt-out after 2026. Anthony Santander will have a chance to withdraw after 2027. Andrés Giménez And Alejandro Kirk This could be the two players who earn notable money in the team by 2028 if these withdrawal clauses are exercised, and there is nothing on books beyond 2030.

If Guerrero and the Jays have officially put the pen on paper, he will deprive the upcoming off -season of one of the best free agents. From now on, Guerrero and Kyle Tucker are considered players in the first position likely to be available. On the pitch side, Dylan stops,, Zac Gallen And Michael King will be some of the most attractive names. It will be a difficult development for fans of other clubs, but it could be a huge advantage for other free agents, in particular Tucker, who will become the best unquestionable free agent striker available on a market that seems more and more hungry for the impact offensive without warrero at the top. Of course, all this would force the parties to officially conclude an agreement.