Aaron Boone's new comments about Vladimir Guerrero Jr. confirm Blue Jays made right decision

About two hours before the Yankees’ series finale against the Guardians on Wednesday, Aaron Boone was asked about Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s 14-year, $500 million extension with the Blue Jays. 

While Boone and the Yankees still had one more game remaining against the Guardians (the team that Boone’s Yankees beat in last year’s ALCS), Guerrero was still a conversation topic — and for good reason.

Not only did Guerrero’s extension confirm that he was going to stay in the American League Easy longtime —meaning that Boone and the Yankees will be seeing plenty of Guerrero — but it also means that he won’t end up being a Yankee. 

Aaron Boone's new comments about Vladimir Guerrero Jr. confirm Blue Jays made right decision

Prior to signing his extension with the Blue Jays, there were plenty of rumors surrounding where could end up if he hit free agency, with the Yankees being one of them. 

Although Guerrero had previously said that he’d never play for the Yankees, he walked those comments back in an interview this spring, saying that he’d give all 30 teams a fair shot in free agency. 

That’s all a hypothetical now due to Guerrero's extension. 

“Seems like he’s always tough on us and is a great hitter and player,” Boone said. They have the face of their franchise locked up forever.”

Boone’s not wrong about Guerrero playing the Yankees well. 

He’s played 89 games in his career against the Yankees (the third-most he has in his career against one team) and has hit. 292 with 20 home runs and 65 RBI.

He’s also a good hitter at Yankees Stadium, as he has a .288 average with 14 home runs (the most he has in any visiting ballpark) and 26 RBI. 

His dominance of the Yankees reached a new level last year when he hit .373 with five home runs, which resulted in plenty of home run celebrations.

Had Guerrero not signed his extension with the Blue Jays, his greeting at Yankee Stadium likely would have been filled with cheers like when he was introduced at Citi Field. 

Now he’ll likely be greeted with the boos he’s accustomed to receiving there. 

Guerrero and the Blue Jays are going to be limping into Yankee Stadium on a five-game losing streak highlighted by a sweep at the hands of the Astros. 

Their offense is scuffling and their rotation is being held together by duct tape, but a strong series against New York could help turn things around. 

The Yankees dropped two of three in their last series against the Guardians, but they also have an offense that’s clicking on all cylinders. Aaron Judge is hitting .415 after a strong series against Cleveland, while Paul Goldschmidt is nipping at his heels with a .383 average. 

In other words, Guerrero and the Blue Jays will have their work cut out for them. 

“Always nice to play the Blue Jays,” Boone said. “They’ve been pitching well so far this year. It should be a good, tough series."