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 slightly 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 offered a brand new supply. That mindset is all of the extra notable now, on condition that Jays CEO Mark Shapiro flatly said that he expects to finally comply with an extension with the group’s star first baseman, via Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi. Stated Shapiro:
“…I assume 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 we have now such a transparent alignment on the specified consequence. Vlad desires to play his entire 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. … Might be earlier than free company, may very well be throughout free company, however I’m optimistic we are going to 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 under $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 mild on negotiations. Guerrero reportedly sought a net-present value 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 easy because the ostensible $50M separating the reported supply and asking worth. “That’s an oversimplification primarily based upon solely a part of the data,” Shapiro mentioned, via MLB.com’s Keegan Mattheson.
Shapiro’s candor and optimistic tone on finally 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 making ready a brand new supply for Guerrero. Whereas it’s nonetheless not clear whether or not a brand new supply shall be made previous to Opening Day, Shapiro’s feedback do lend some credence to the concept a brand new proposal may very well be forthcoming earlier than lengthy.
For his half, Guerrero supplied the next feedback:
