It's working so far.
Worth it.
Can we actually make that determination about Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s $500 million, 14-year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays after just a few months? No, not really.
But the Blue Jays have to be thrilled. This is what it's supposed to look and feel like.
Toronto is atop the American League East, and Guerrero is having a blast.
Just check out what Vladdy had to say, via an interpreter, to MLB.com's Keegan Matheson:
“Once I wake up, I just can’t wait to get to the field to be with my teammates. It’s been unbelievable. It’s what any manager wants, a team like that and a culture like that.”
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This is a Toronto team full of revitalization. George Springer is having his best season in years. So is Bo Bichette. Alejandro Kirk has bounced back. Addison Barger and Nathan Lukes have been revelations. Ernie Clement is having a career year.
Guerrero, with an .824 OPS, will start at first base for the AL in the All-Star game.
Whenever a player signs a contract as long as Guerrero's, it's fruitless to try and figure out what will be happening a decade from now.
The best that can be done is to look at the here and now and recognize how different things could be. If the Blue Jays had never met Vladdy at the table, would he be unhappy? Would it be dragging the whole team down? Would he be involved in incessant trade chatter?
It's very possible any one of those things could've happened.
But instead, the Blue Jays are riding high, in first place, with their leading man having the time of his life. That's what $500 million, when spent the right way, can buy.
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Category: Baseball
