Vladimir Guerrero Jr. won his arbitration case against his team, the Toronto Blue Jays. He will earn $19.9 million during the 2024 MLB season instead of the $18.05 million the Blue Jays offered. It’s also the highest amount any player got through arbitration.
Major League Baseball determines which side to favor during arbitration through statistics and player comparisons. The league determined that Guerrero Jr. is worth more than the Blue Jays offered after a season wherein he hit .264/.345/.444/.788. He collected 159 hits, 78 runs, 94 RBIs, and 26 home runs.
Arbitrators have ruled in favour of Vladimir Guerrero Jr., per @ShiDavidi.
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) February 8, 2024
He will earn $19.9M this upcoming season. pic.twitter.com/UGBW8zU3Qg
While this is Guerrero Jr.’s third arbitration year, it’s the first time he has gone through a hearing. He agreed to the $7.9 million Toronto offered in 2022 and $14.5 million in 2023.
But while Guerrero Jr. is under contract with the Blue Jays, arbitration deals are good for one season. He will undergo another year of arbitration in 2025 before becoming a free agent. Therefore, the Blue Jays need to discuss a long-term deal with him no later than the 2025 offseason.
Letting him go will be a massive mistake for the Blue Jays because he has been a three-time All-Star, a Silver Slugger awardee, and a Gold Glove recipient. Guerrero Jr. became an All-MLB First Team member in 2021 after leading the league in runs (123), total bases (363), and home runs (48). He also led the American League in on-base percentage (.401) and slugging percentage (.601).
Aside from Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the Blue Jays must also consider signing Bo Bichette to a contract extension. His three-year, $33 million deal covers his arbitration years, making him a free agent in 2026. Locking up both players to long-term deals will give the Blue Jays a solid core for the future.
-Lance Fernandez