The Toronto Blue Jays and star first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. didn’t conform to a long-term contract extension on Monday.
Guerrero, 25, set a deadline on Monday evening for the 2 sides to come back to an settlement on a deal, because the star first baseman doesn’t plan on negotiating a deal throughout the season.
Guerrero mentioned that the deal was not made resulting from a scarcity of effort.
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Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero Jr., #27, sits within the dugout earlier than the beginning of a recreation in opposition to the Miami Marlins at Rogers Centre. (Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Pictures)
“The last couple days, the front office, my lawyers, my agents, they met, both (sides) tried but obviously we couldn’t get an agreement,” Guerrero mentioned by way of an interpreter at Blue Jays camp on Tuesday.
“We never got to the point where I felt like I wanted to do the deal.”
Blue Jays common supervisor Ross Atkins mentioned regardless of no deal being accomplished, the workforce nonetheless needs Guerrero again.
Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero Jr., #27, walks again to the dugout earlier than the beginning of a recreation in opposition to the Miami Marlins at Rogers Centre. (Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Pictures)
“We worked very hard and the motivation is still there,” Atkins mentioned.
“I’m confident that every thought, idea we had — every dollar that we had — was communicated. But we’re obviously disappointed to not have gotten that done. … It doesn’t change our desire. We will certainly be motivated and remain motivated.”
Guerrero is coming off a stellar season, when he hit .323 with 30 dwelling runs and 103 RBI in 159 video games.
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Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., #27, celebrates hitting a single in opposition to the Miami Marlins throughout the first inning at Rogers Centre. (Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Pictures)
If the four-time All Star repeats these numbers this season, he’s primed to be the high free agent of this 12 months’s class.
If the Blue Jays battle to start with of the season, the workforce might doubtlessly look to commerce Guerrero on the commerce deadline to recoup some property as a substitute of shedding him for nothing in free company.
Together with his younger age and robust manufacturing, Guerrero goes to command a big payday in free company.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
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