Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s self-imposed deadline for an extension — the primary full day of spring coaching — got here and went greater than a month in the past, with no deal coming to fruition. Guerrero has left the door barely cracked, indicating that whereas he doesn’t plan to barter any additional, he’d be amenable to listening to the Jays out in the event that they introduced a brand new supply. That mindset is all of the extra notable now, provided that Jays CEO Mark Shapiro flatly acknowledged that he expects to ultimately comply with an extension with the crew’s star first baseman, by way of Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi. Mentioned Shapiro:
“…I suppose my overarching feeling is considered one of optimism. I believe we’re going to signal him. I believe we’re going to increase him. The rationale I really feel that means is as a result of now we have such a transparent alignment on the specified final result. Vlad needs to play his complete profession as a Toronto Blue Jay. We would like him to finish his profession in a Blue Jays uniform to be a real legacy participant for the Toronto Blue Jays. … Could possibly be earlier than free company, might be throughout free company, however I’m optimistic we’ll signal him.”
Particulars surrounding each Guerrero’s asking worth and the Blue Jays’ most up-to-date supply have trickled out within the weeks since his deadline handed. Guerrero himself made clear he wasn’t looking for something near Juan Soto’s $765M assure with the Mets; he sought underneath $600M in assured cash over a 14- or 15-year deal. Subsequent reporting from Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman of the New York Publish, and Davidi shed additional gentle on negotiations. Guerrero reportedly sought a net-present worth of $500M, and whereas the Jays are mentioned to have supplied a determine near $500M, deferred cash pushed the present-day worth down nearer to $450M.
Though that paints a broad image of the place issues stand, Shapiro cautioned (with out citing particularly reported numbers) that the hole isn’t fairly as simple because the ostensible $50M separating the reported supply and asking worth. “That’s an oversimplification based mostly upon solely a part of the data,” Shapiro mentioned, by way of MLB.com’s Keegan Mattheson.
Shapiro’s candor and optimistic tone on ultimately hammering out a long-term deal come not lengthy after Hector Gomez of the Dominican Republic’s Z101 Sports activities reported that the Jays are getting ready a brand new supply for Guerrero. Whereas it’s nonetheless not clear whether or not a brand new supply can be made previous to Opening Day, Shapiro’s feedback do lend some credence to the concept that a brand new proposal might be forthcoming earlier than lengthy.
For his half, Guerrero supplied the next feedback:
