
USA Today via Reuters
Sep 7, 2021; Bronx, New York, USA; Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) reacts after losing his bat on a swing against the New York Yankees during the seventh inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports

USA Today via Reuters
Sep 7, 2021; Bronx, New York, USA; Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) reacts after losing his bat on a swing against the New York Yankees during the seventh inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports
All’s not well with the Blue Jays’ superstar Vladimir Guerrero Jr.! His $600 million deal looks far-fetched as he makes it to the top of an unconventional list in 2024, getting selected as one of the worst base runners in MLB. But is there any chance of his dreams not getting shattered despite topping such an embarrassing list? Maybe, or maybe not.
The Toronto Blue Jays were targeting Shohei Ohtani; however, it all went in vain after Ohtani signed with the Dodgers. With the Blue Jays not being able to afford what the Yankees and Mets offered to Juan Soto, they will have to extend Guerrero Jr.’s contract; however, his worth has come under question, not being able to live up to the hype that he promises.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has been an All-Star first baseman who contributed a lot to the Blue Jays. He had a great 2024 season, having batted at an average of .323 with 103 RBIs and 30 home runs. However, on March 6, during the TalkingBaseball podcast, among the players making 400+ appearances, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. made it to the top of the list of the worst base runners. Well, Vladdy never walked much as he remained grounded into double plays; however, his intentional walks boosted his overall walk rate to some greater extent. But that couldn’t stop him from becoming one of the worst base runners.
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Well, yes, considering that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is seeking something around $600 million, which is at par with the contractual amount of superstars like Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto. However, when compared to Vladdy, Ohtani stands out among the MLB base runners, given that he became the first player to go 50-50. So, it’s really a matter of question for him, as Vladdy’s running has been scrutinized often, and it seems no match against the likes of Ohtani and Soto.
That’s the reason behind his worth coming into scrutiny. However, Guerrero Jr.’s dream of fetching a $600 million deal doesn’t look unlikely given his comparison with the MLB greats in terms of cost per AVG.
What’s your perspective on:
Can Vladimir Guerrero Jr. justify a $600 million deal despite being one of MLB's worst base runners?
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Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s $600 million dream does not look unlikely
It doesn’t look like a dream anymore for the 25-year-old first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to fetch a deal worth $600 million. The reason? Vladdy had a great 2024 season where he had an average of .323, .396 OBP, and .940 OPS. But something that’s more amusing is that he boasts of a $208,333 cost per AVG point per year, which is less than the Dodgers’ superstar Shohei Ohtani’s $248,226 but better than Juan Soto’s $178,947. But that’s not all!
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Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is the youngest among the three—being 25 years of age—and he has got a lot to offer. Moreover, his great brand value is every marketer’s dream not only in terms of engaging more fans from all over but also for promoting the franchise much better. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays are planning to part ways with him in case they fail to make it to the playoffs or they trade him with the Boston Red Sox. However, despite that, given Vladdy’s potential, he surely will fetch good numbers once he becomes a free agent.
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Do you think Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s dream of $600 million is achievable given that he is not a good baserunner? Let us know in the comment below.
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Debate
Can Vladimir Guerrero Jr. justify a $600 million deal despite being one of MLB's worst base runners?