Thursday roundup: Blue Jays avoid arbitration with Vladimir Guerrero Jr., six others in busy day
It was busy day for the Toronto Blue Jays.
While fans around the world still await news of a Vladimir Guerrero Jr. contract extension, the team was able to avoid going to arbitration with their superstar first baseman.
Guerrero and the Blue Jays agreed to a $28.5MM salary for the 2025 season.
It is a significant raise than the $19.8MM he made in 2024, though about $1MM less then he was projected to make in an arbitration hearing. The Blue Jays and Vladdy went through the hearing process last year where the All-Star came out the winner.
Both sides were keen to avoid a repeat scenario.
While it isn't the long-term deal that fans are hoping for, the fact that two sides were able to agree on something is a positive sign, especially after recent reports indicated Guerrero and the Blue Jays were about $100MM apart in extension talks.
The Blue Jays also avoided arbitration with six other players, meaning they won't have to go any hearings this year.
Zach Pop was the first agreement to be reported on, with the reliever set to make $900K in 2025. Fellow reliever Nick Sandlin followed suit, coming to terms at $1.63MM.
MLB insider Mark Feinsand then reported that the Blue Jays and centre fielder Daulton Varsho settled on a dollar amount, while Gate 14 Podcast Johnny Giunta broke the news about Ernie Clement. Their salaries will be $8.2MM and $1.975MM respectively.
Finally, Alek Manoah agreed to a $2.2MM salary to wrap up the initial announcements.
Around the same time that Vladdy's contract was announced, it was also noted that Alejandro Kirk similarly avoided arbitration, with the Blue Jays giving their catcher $4.6MM for 2025.
All in all, it was a productive day for the Blue Jays. Hopefully more good news will follow.
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