Update on Vladimir Guerrero Jr's extension talks.
Photo credit: https://www.mlb.com/bluejays
Here's where things stand with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Toronto Blue jays' extension talks.
There are no more days to count down. It's all hours, minutes and seconds now.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Blue jays stand on the doorstep of the star's deadline, and if the two sides can't come to an agreement on an extension by the time Vladdy steps out of his car and strolls into the clubhouse Tuesday morning, this conversation will hang over the Blue jays all season long.
«I'm just excited to see him tomorrow in camp,» said manager John Schneider, who added that he and Guerrero have not discussed the contract topic lately. «I'm looking forward to this season with him. Hopefully, this gets done. This is the business part of it. We're both hoping for the same outcome, I think, but first and foremost, I'm just excited to get him in around the guys tomorrow.»
Bowden Francis on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.:
«We just want him to play and have fun. We want him to be happy. At the end of the day, he's going to play his best when he's happy, so we just hope it gets done. Either way, we know he's going to be smiling when he walks in.»
Vladdy has been counting down. Each day this week, on Guerrero 's Instagram stories, there's another tick off the clock ...3...2...1...
On Monday morning -- with another picture of the gym where Guerrero is preparing for the season with his trainer, Nicole Gabriel -- there was only a small picture of a clock.
It's almost time for that buzzer to ring, and while Monday has been circled as the deadline, there's still another night until Guerrero speaks Tuesday.
By then, it will be time to watch the storm clouds roll in or pop the champagne for mimosas.
The Blue jays, on the other hand, aren't saying a thing.
«We are very excited that he's here for this year, and Vlad has been incredible for this organization,» general manager Ross Atkins told MLB Network recently. «He's an incredible teammate and person with the best smile in the game and he's one of the best hitters in the game. Our desire is there. We're going to work tirelessly to keep him here.»
All that matters is finding a number both sides are comfortable with, and if there's a resolution, it's expected to go down to the wire.
The thing about self-imposed deadlines is that they're a little more flexible than ones that arent.
| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 17 | 504 ANSWERS Update on Vladimir Guerrero Jr's extension talks. Do you think Vladimir Guerrero Jr will negotiate past his self imposed deadline tomorrow? | ||
| Yes | 117 | 23.2 % |
| No | 266 | 52.8 % |
| I sure hope so! | 121 | 24 % |
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