Guerrero returns “a little love” to Canada with a new contract
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. signed on Monday the extension with Toronto Blue Jays and said he wants to return his love to the country
Toronto – The Toletero Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who considers Canada his “Second House”, signed on Monday his contract of 500 million dollars for 14 years with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Guerrero, 26, was born in Montreal while his father, Vladimir Mr.member of the Hall of Fame, I played for the exhibition. The young Guerrero signed with the Blue Jays at age 16, in 2015, and debuted in the Major Leagues in 2019.
“I was born here and this is my second home,” Guerrero said in English on Monday. “I have spent a lot of time here in Toronto and Canada. When a country gives you love, you have to return the love, you know? That’s what I am doing right now.”
Guerrero usually speaks in Spanish and uses a translator to answer questions from journalists, but on Monday he only spoke in English.
Edward Rogers, Executive President of Rogers Communications, owner of the team, described Guerrero as “a truly historic franchise” and said that the contract represented “a historical agreement for Canada and for this club.”
“This was the right decision for the Jays, and we saw so,” Rogers said. “Vlad began his career here. We also consider him part of the family and we wanted him to stay from the beginning. It is an excellent long -term agreement that will make the most competitive Blue Jays, will increase our chances of winning and be a contestant.”
Guerrero has an average. The four times there
“He has proven to be one of the most impressive offensive players of baseball,” said the president of the Blue Jays, Mark Shapiro.
Guerrero, twice Bat de Plata, was the winner of the golden glove of the American League in first base in 2022. He won the MLB home run derby in the 2023 star game, in Seattle, matching his father’s achievement in 2007. They are the only father-son duo to win the derby.
Beyond the offensive talent, the general manager of the Blue Jays, Ross AtkinsHe said that Guerrero’s enthusiastic and energetic personality is an attractive quality.
“Not only does it contribute an elite competitiveness, but also that characteristic smile that everyone wants to have close,” Athins said. “Of course, I know that her companions appreciate her and will continue to do it.”
The Blue Jays players, George Springer, Anthony Santander, Andres Gimenez and Jose Berrios, were present at the Monday event and applauded effusively after Guerrero signed his new contract.
Also among the public were the manager John Schneiderthe associated manager Demar himthe first base coach Mark Budzinskias well as the wife, daughter and family of Guerrero.
Guerrero agreed in January a contract of $ 28.5 million for a year that avoided arbitration, and had said that he would not negotiate after presenting to spring training in mid -February. Even so, the conversations with their agent continued during the regular season before the agreement was closed last week.
The Blue Jays announced the contract during their visit to Boston last week.
Guerrero’s agreement is the third largest in total terms, behind the contract of 765 million dollars for 15 years of gardener Juan Soto with the New York Mets that began this season, and the $ 700 million agreement for 10 years of star Shhehei Ohtani with the Angels Dodgers, which began last year and is widely deferred.
The average annual value of Guerrero, of $ 35.71 million, under the new agreement, occupies the eighth place among the contracts in force, behind those of Ohtani ($ 70 million), Sot millions), the Dodgers Blake Snell launch ($ 36.4 million) and the Yankees La Yankees launcher Gerrit Cole ($ 36 million).
Guerrero’s agreement includes a record bonus per signature of $ 325 million that protects the money from a possible work stoppage in 2027.
“It is simply another mechanism that was beneficial for both the team and for the player,” Atkins said about the considerable bonus by firm. “It benefits from its guaranteed nature, and there are some small accounting benefits for him and also for the Blue Jays. It was simply a way to find a way to approach the goal.”
Atkins refused to offer details about how those “accounting benefits” impact the Blue Jays. The part that Guerrero received as a bonus per firm presumably will be exempt from the State Income Tax in Florida, where it resides.
The firm bonus includes $ 20 million payable within 30 days after the approval of the agreement for the major baseball leagues. The rest expires every June 30 between 2026 and 2039: $ 13 million in 2026, $ 14 million in 2027, $ 16 million in 2028, $ 18 million in 2029, $ 20 million in each of the 2030s, 2031 and 2032, $ 22 million in each of the 2033 and 2034, $ 23 million in 2035, $ 24 million in 2036, $ 29 million in 2037, $ 31 million in 2037, $ 31 million in 2037, $ 31 million in 2037, $ 31 million in 203 $ 33 million in 2039.
He would receive a bonus of $ 150,000 for winning the prize for the most valuable player (MVP), $ 125,000 for being second in the vote, $ 100,000 for the third, $ 75,000 for the fourth and $ 50,000 for the fifth. Guerrero would receive $ 50,000 for each of the two awards: for being included in the star game or by winning the MVP of the World Series, a gold glove or a silver bat. He would receive $ 25,000 for being the MVP of the League championship series.
In addition, Toronto will provide Guerrero for four seats for all regular seasonal games at home and a discount luxury suite, subject to availability, for all regular and postseason season games at home.
On Monday, Guerrero was asked about the future of his partner and Campocorto Bo Bichette, who is eligible for free agency after the World Series. Both children of former Major Leagues grew together in the minor leagues of Toronto and debuted a few months apart in 2019.
“I can’t control his destiny,” said Guerrero. “I hope you stay here with me, with all my heart, but I can’t control that.”
