Vlad Guerrero Jr. Set for a Half-Billion Dollar Contract with Blue Jays.
Vladimir Guerrero Sr. kicked off his MLB journey with the Montreal Expos. While he was in Montreal, he welcomed a son, Vlad Guerrero Jr. The younger Guerrero, who holds both Canadian and Dominican citizenship, continued his baseball journey in Canada. He joined the Toronto Blue Jays in 2015 at just 16 years old and quickly climbed the amateur ranks. Guerrero made his professional debut on April 26, 2019, shortly after turning 20.
Now, he’s landed a contract worth a staggering half a billion dollars.
Guerrero and the Blue Jays have finalized a 14-year, $500 million extension. This deal, which has no deferred payments, ranks as the third-largest in MLB history. Only Juan Soto's contract with the New York Mets (15 years, $765 million) and Shohei Ohtani's deal with the Dodgers (10 years, $700 million) are larger.
So far, Guerrero has been selected for four All-Star teams, received two All-MLB First Team honors, and won two Silver Slugger Awards along with a Gold Glove. He led the league in home runs in 2021 and has hit over 160 in his career to date. He’s also on track to hit 1,000 career hits this season, and he’s only 26.
Additionally, Guerrero was the face of the MLB The Show 24 video game. While that probably didn’t influence his contract talks, it’s still a notable achievement.
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The younger Guerrero is set to surpass his father's career earnings by a wide margin. The biggest contract Guerrero Sr. ever signed was a five-year, $70 million deal in 2004. According to Spotrac, he earned just over $129 million throughout his 16-year career. His son is expected to exceed that amount in less than four seasons.
At first, it seemed like this deal might not go through. The two parties struggled to reach a long-term agreement, leading Guerrero Jr. to settle for a one-year deal to avoid arbitration. That $28.5 million contract was the third-largest of its kind, following Soto's last year and Ohtani's two years ago.
Guerrero Jr. is sticking around for the long run, thanks to this contract that will keep him on the team until he turns 40. The Blue Jays are optimistic about winning several championships during that time.
Vlad Guerrero Jr.'s remarkable $500 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays is a testament to his incredible talent, hard work, and potential. With a career already filled with All-Star appearances, Silver Slugger awards, and a reputation as one of the league's most dynamic players, Guerrero’s future looks brighter than ever.
This massive deal not only secures his place in Toronto’s lineup for the long haul but also positions the Blue Jays for potential championships in the years to come. As Guerrero Jr. continues to grow into one of baseball’s elite stars, this contract marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter.
