Report: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Blue Jays have had long-term extension talks

Prior to the 2023 home opener for the Toronto Blue Jays, face of the franchise Vladimir Guerrero Jr. told reporters (including Shi Davidi of Sportsnet) that he has recently discussed a long-term extension with the club.

Guerrero went on to say that the talks didn't get too far, but he isn't worried about the negotiations. "It isn't going to cause me any stress", he said. "I'm going to take care of what I've got to take care of, which is on the field, and the rest I'm going to leave my agents to work with. I know who I am. I know my value. We're going to keep having conversations, but all of my focus every day is here on the field."

This is a nice quote, because there doesn't seem to be any feelings one way or the other on the fact that no deal has been reached yet. Often times, players let such talks overwhelm them and it begins to hurt their performance on the field. Vladdy, a true professional, is not like most players in this situation.

The impact Guerrero has had on the field since he debuted in 2019 cannot be overstated. He has been incredibly durable, rarely missing games, and has provided the offense with a consistent threat to get on board, whether it's via bloop single or a massive home run. Since he broke into the league, he's already passed the 100-homer plateau and has finished as high as second in the AL MVP voting.

To start of the 2023 campaign, Guerrero is 18-for-45 (good for a .400 batting average) with a double, two home runs, nine runs scored, six RBI and an OPS+ of 186. He, along with Matt Chapman, are both already putting together All-Star-caliber seasons and will be integral parts of this club's march to the postseason.

One of the great things about Guerrero is the fact that he's stepped into the spotlight and become a man of the people. His father, an MLB Hall of Famer, was similar in that he was frequently involved in charity work and was a solid media soundbite. Vlad Jr. realizes how important he is to the team, there's no denying that he is the No. 1 player on the roster. Now, it's just a matter of locking him up and making him a Blue Jay for life.