Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s contract saga got here to a profitable finish.
He’s not going wherever.
Guerrero agreed to a 14-year extension price $500 million with the Blue Jays early Monday morning, The Publish’s Jon Heyman confirmed.
The deal has no deferrals and a full no-trade clause.
After making an attempt and failing to signal a number of stars in recent times, together with Juan Soto and Shohei Ohtani, Toronto has lastly inked one among MLB’s greatest abilities to a long-term deal.
Guerrero, 26, is in his seventh season with the Blue Jays and was set to be a free agent after the yr.
The deal units the report for largest extension in MLB historical past, surpassing Mike Trout’s $426.5 million extension with the Angels in 2019.
And by way of whole worth, it’s the third-biggest contract in league historical past, behind Soto’s $765 million cope with the Mets this previous offseason and Ohtani’s $700 million cope with the Dodgers the yr prior.
Final yr, Guerrero recorded a slash line of .323/.396/.544 with 30 house runs, 103 RBIs and a .940 OPS.
Largely a primary baseman, Guerrero also can play third.
He had beforehand set a deadline for negotiations in February previous to the Blue Jays starting spring coaching, however now seemingly modified his thoughts.
“I’m right here. We didn’t get an settlement,” Guerrero stated by way of an interpreter on the time. “Now, they’re going to should compete with 29 different groups.”
The Blue Jays didn’t should compete with anybody else in spite of everything.
Group president Mark Shapiro in current days had expressed confidence {that a} deal was imminent.
“I believe we’re going to signal him. I believe we’re going to increase him,” Shapiro stated. “The explanation I really feel that method is as a result of we now have such a transparent alignment on the specified final result.”
It comes simply two days after Mets followers cheered for him and gave him a particularly heat welcome throughout their house opener, fueling hypothesis the Amazin’s might make a transfer for him in free company.
Now, they received’t get that likelihood.
Guerrero is a Canadian citizen and grew up in Montreal, the place his legendary father began his Corridor of Fame profession with the Expos.
He made the American League All-Star crew every of the final 4 seasons and owns two Silver Slugger awards and one Gold Glove.
He debuted within the majors at 20 years previous in 2019, setting him as much as probably hit free company sooner than most stars.
However the Blue Jays received’t have to fret about that.
