Report: Guerrero Jr. 'really happy' with Blue Jays, open to long-term deal

The Toronto Blue Jays and their fans have fallen in love with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. over the past four years and apparently the feeling is mutual.

Guerrero Jr. is reportedly willing to stay with the Blue Jays for the long haul and would like to resolve his contract status sooner rather than later.

"I'm open to signing a long-term deal with the Blue Jays," Guerrero Jr. told MLB insider Hector Gomez. "I feel really happy playing here. I hope something can be done about it this offseason.”

Those words are music to fans' ears as the 23-year-old slugger has only three years of club control remaining after this season. His salary will rise from the $7.9 million he's making in 2022 as he continues through his arbitration years. Working out a long-term agreement would secure Guerrero Jr. as the face of the franchise and give the Blue Jays some cost certainty moving forward.

In terms of what it would cost to sign the first baseman, Toronto would likely have to pay around $30 million per season for at least 10 years.

Guerrero Jr. hasn't been able to replicate his breakout 2021 season that saw him finish as the runner-up in American League MVP voting, hitting .278/.342/.485 with 28 home runs in 2022. Despite not performing up to his potential, his OPS+ still sits at 134 (34 percent higher than the league average hitter). If that type of production represents his floor as he gets deeper into his 20s then he's worth backing up the Brinks truck for.

The son of Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero Sr. was hyped long before he stepped on a major-league diamond for the first time in 2019. Guerrero Jr. was baseball's top prospect as he rose through the minor leagues and has mostly lived up to that pedigree, being named to two All-Star teams during his young career so far.

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