The money at the top of the market has been hard to believe as of late. Now, after months of negotiation, the Toronto Blue Jays and star first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. have reached an incredible agreement on a 4-year, $500 million contract extension, pending his physical examination, according to ESPN. Unlike the deal struck by the Los Angeles Dodgers with two-way star Shohei Ohtani, Guerrero Jr.’s agreement has no deferrals. This means that, barring an unlikely trade due to the massive size of the contract, he is expected to remain in Toronto for the entirety of his career.
The 26-year-old had previously stated he would not engage in negotiations during the season after the two sides failed to agree on terms during spring training. Nevertheless, discussions continued, leading to a deal that stands as the third-largest in MLB history, eclipsed only by Juan Soto’s 15-year, $765 million contract with the New York Mets and Shohei Ohtani’s 10-year, $700 million deal with the Dodgers. This signing is significant for the Blue Jays, especially after their unsuccessful attempts to secure both Soto and Ohtani.
Guerrero Jr., much like his Hall of Fame father, Vladimir Guerrero, possesses exceptional bat-to-ball skills. He boasts a career batting line of .288/.363/.499 with 160 home runs, 510 RBIs, and 559 strikeouts against 353 walks, according to ESPN. It will be fascinating to see if this signing positions the Blue Jays as contenders in the AL East for the next decade and beyond.
