Through his first four MLB seasons, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has finished second in American League MVP voting, made two All-Star teams, won a Silver Slugger, a Gold Glove and has been one of baseball’s most productive hitters. As such, he’s going to make more than anyone in his position has before him.
Shi Davidi of Sportsnet reported on Friday that Guerrero and the Toronto Blue Jays agreed to a one-year deal worth $14.5 million, avoiding arbitration.
Blue Jays and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., agree at $14.5m to avoid arbitration, per source.
— Shi Davidi (@ShiDavidi) January 14, 2023
The deal was similar to the one that Pete Alonso and the New York Mets agreed to on Friday. That was a record-setting deal for a first baseman in his arbitration years. Like Alonso, Guerrero is a first baseman and heading into his second arbitration season.
Guerrero is coming off something of a down year in 2022. He had a respectable 32 home runs and produced a .274/.339/.480, a significant drop from 2021, when he hit 48 home runs, slashed .311/.401/ .601 and finished second in AL MVP voting. He did, however, win the American League Gold Glove Award at first base.
Since debuting in 2019, Guerrero has slashed at .284/.358/.504 and has hit 104 home runs, averaging 33 long balls per 162 games. Durability has also been an asset. He played in only 123 games in the 2019 season. Since then, Guerrero played in all 60 games of 2020’s COVID-19 shortened season, 161 games in 2021 and 160 games in 2022.
[Shi Davidi on Twitter]
