If you’re willing to give Mark Shapiro the benefit of the doubt, maybe it was merely pre-negotiation posturing.
Perhaps the Blue Jays president’s lacklustre evaluation of Vlad Guerrero Jr.’s rise in the game was intended solely to solidify an early stance in low-ball talks.
And then there’s the prospect of what would have been unfathomable five years ago (when he broke into the big leagues), three years ago (when he hit 48 home runs and lit up the league), and five days ago (when he was chasing 200 hits for the first time in his career).
Perhaps the Blue Jays are content to bid Vlad farewell.
Shapiro’s casual response to a question about whether Guerrero was a generational talent was one of the most perplexing aspects of Wednesday’s season-ending press conference.
While it is a subjective platitude, Shapiro had no interest in lavishing effusive praise on the 25-year-old (the team’s lone offensive bright spot in 2024, as you are well aware), and instead of simple superlatives, Shapiro offered out bland approval devoid of any sort of passion.
“A generational player?” So, what is your definition of that?” Shapiro inquired, bordering on combative. “He’s one of the best offensive players in the league today. I am not sure. Given his youth, he has a strong chance of becoming a generational player. But, at 26 years old (as Guerrero will be next March), he has the ability to be a generational player.
“He’s a great talent and emerging into a great player.”
At best, it was an odd answer from the Blue Jays’ general manager concerning a fan favourite.
At worst, it seemed like a man unable to part with hundreds of millions of dollars in Rogers wealth to secure himself. Perhaps it’s the voice of a team CEO who believes the hundreds of millions of dollars would be better spent elsewhere.
It may be good to temper criticism of Shapiro and general manager Ross Atkins on this because, to be fair, they have never hinted at a long-term Guerrero extension anytime the matter has been discussed.
And the team’s big-money additions, including Hyun-Jin Ryu, George Springer, and Kevin Gausman, were all kept under wraps until they were completed.
But, whatever the motivation, it did not seem like an optimistic posture for a man who leads a last-place team that is anxious to maintain its lone superstar player for more than the remaining 12 months on his contract.
At the very least, Shapiro’s response ensured that Guerrero would be the focal point of the Jays’ off-season narrative in the face of such uncertainty.
The first baseman (forget about moving him to third, Atkins affirmed on Wednesday) is eligible for arbitration again and, if it goes that far, will undoubtedly attend the hearing (to make the front office squirm), as he did in February. Guerrero is set to receive another raise after hitting 30 home runs and driving in 103 runs this season.
According to MLB Trade Rumours, Guerrero tops all arbitration-eligible players with a projected settlement of $29.6 million for next season. Guerrero received $19.9 million after winning his arbitration case in February, despite the team’s offer of $18.05 million.
Of course, any arbitration disputes may be averted if the Jays and Guerrero negotiate a long-term agreement before then — and what a tone that would establish.
If Guerrero stays on board in the long run, steadiness replaces much of the saltiness of the previous six months. As manager John Schneider stated in the final week of the ill-fated season, Guerrero could easily emerge as the franchise’s face.
“He is at the point performance-wise and where he is personality-wise that he can definitely do that with how he’s recognized around the game, how he’s recognized around this city,” Schneider said of him. “I absolutely think he’s talented enough and kind of ready to do that.”
Interestingly, Schneider revealed that the organization has discussed re-signing Guerrero, saying that a long-term contract may go a long way toward luring free players.
“That would definitely help,” Schneider remarked. “I’m sure it holds a little more weight if you have someone like that.”
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