Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will not be Juan Soto, and he is aware of it.
With Guerrero’s contract expiring after the upcoming season, he and the Blue Jays seemed to decide on an extension however had been finally unable to return to an settlement.
For the reason that fellow younger star Soto agreed to a 15-year $765 million contract with the Mets this offseason, this introduced claims that Guerrero, the four-time All Star, was demanding one thing comparable — however his price ticket didn’t even attain $600 million.
“It [was] much less than Soto. We’re talking about many fewer millions than Soto, more than a hundred million less,” Guerrero instructed ESPN.
Final season, Guerrero batted a career-best .323 with 30 dwelling runs, 103 RBIs and a .940 OPS.
As for Soto, he hit .288 with 41 dwelling runs, 109 RBIs and a .989 OPS.
Their numbers are actually in the identical ballpark, however Guerrero didn’t count on the identical financial numbers.
“It was the same number of years [as Soto’s contract], but it didn’t reach [$600 million],” he stated. “The last number we gave them as a counteroffer didn’t reach 600.”
Whereas he didn’t request cash in the same ballpark as Soto’s deal, he hopes for the same variety of years however needed to decrease that ask too.
“I know the business,” Guerrero instructed ESPN. “I lowered the salary demands a bit, but I also lowered the number of years. I’m looking for 14 [years]. I would like 14, 15, even 20 if they give them to me, but doing it the right way.”
The negotiations lasted so long as they probably might have earlier than falling by way of and finally establishing an fascinating future for the 25-year-old Guerrero following this season.
“The meetings lasted until the last day of the deadline, but [the Blue Jays and Guerrero’s agents] couldn’t reach an agreement on the numbers,” Guerrero stated. “But as I’ve always said, just because we couldn’t reach an agreement, I’m not going to change the way I work. I have to keep working.”
