BOSTON – Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s contract saga reached an finish level early Monday morning when he and the Toronto Blue Jays agreed to a $500-million, 14-year deal that’s the second-richest in baseball historical past and recasts the franchise’s trajectory, based on an {industry} supply.
There’s no deferred cash within the deal, which implies as soon as accomplished, will probably be the second-richest contract in baseball historical past, solely recasting the franchise’s trajectory whereas additional driving up the worth for elite younger expertise industry-wide.
By way of current worth, Guerrero’s looming windfall will path solely Juan Soto’s $765-million, 15-year document deal from the New York Mets, and bounce forward of Shohei Ohtani’s $700-million, 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, which nets out nearer to $460 million, relying on how the deferrals are discounted.
The gorgeous sum is the results of negotiations that resumed quietly final week after the edges hit a wall a number of occasions over the previous two months, most notably earlier than a Feb. 18 deadline set by the four-time all-star, and once more simply earlier than Opening Day.
As soon as finalized, the contract primarily buys out the remainder of Guerrero’s profession, after months of back-and-forth between the edges that step by step introduced them collectively.
The dedication additionally doubles Miguel Cabrera’s $248-million, eight-year deal from the Detroit Tigers for the largest assure ever given to a primary baseman, and is greater than thrice the most important deal beforehand handed out by the Blue Jays, George Springer’s $150 million over six years.
Guerrero, 26, would have been eligible at no cost company after the season, heading into the market promoting peak years from age 27 onwards.
As an alternative, he’ll assist stabilize a aggressive window underneath immense menace from his potential departure, in addition to the pending free companies of Bo Bichette, Max Scherzer, Chris Bassitt, Chad Inexperienced and Erik Swanson this fall. The contracts of Springer, Kevin Gausman, Daulton Varsho and Yimi Garcia run via 2026, whereas Jose Berrios’ deal runs via 2028 with an decide out after ’26.
Guerrero’s contract, which runs via 2039, comes on the heels of a $58-million, five-year extension for Alejandro Kirk, serving to to determine a brand new longer-term core that additionally contains Andres Gimenez and Anthony Santander.
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