Published By: Sports Desk
Last Updated: January 31, 2024, 00:30 IST
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Although he’s by no means gone via the method earlier than, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. doesn’t appear too unsettled about the potential for his 2024 wage being determined by a threeperson arbitration panel.
TORONTO: Although he’s by no means gone via the method earlier than, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. doesn’t appear too unsettled about the potential for his 2024 wage being determined by a 3-individual arbitration panel.
That’s most likely as a result of whether or not Guerrero wins or loses, the Blue Jays slugger stands to set a file for the best wage ever awarded in arbitration.
Guerrero has requested for $19.9 million and been supplied $18.05 million, that means he’s assured to prime the $14 million former Toronto teammate Teoscar Hernández obtained from Seattle after Hernández misplaced his listening to final 12 months.
“I feel very happy,” Guerrero stated via a translator in an interview to advertise his look on the quilt of the 2024 version of the online game MLB The Show.
“I feel even more happy because he’s my good friend, and now I can give him a hard time about it,” Guerrero stated.
Guerrero and Hernández had been Blue Jays teammates for 4 seasons, reaching the playoffs collectively in 2020 and 2022.
A 3-time All-Star and the reigning Home Run Derby champion, Guerrero stated he’s made some minor mechanical changes to his swing this offseason after a second straight 12 months of declining productiveness. He set profession-highs with 48 residence runs and 111 RBIs in 2021, then adopted up with 32 homers and 97 RBIs in 2022. Guerrero had 26 homers and 94 final season.
“I improved my mechanics to have as little movement as possible,” Guerrero stated. “To the naked eye, you might not even notice. I can tell the difference because I can feel it.”
Toronto earned its second straight wild card and third in 4 seasons however didn’t win a sport in any of these October appearances. Toronto scored only one run in a two-sport sweep at Minnesota, extending a playoff drought that dates to 2016, when the Blue Jays misplaced 4-1 to Cleveland within the AL Championship Series.
After lacking out on Shohei Ohtani, the Blue Jays have been quiet thus far this offseason, including former Gold Glove winners in outfielder Kevin Kiermaier and infielder/outfielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa. The Blue Jays have been negotiating with third baseman Justin Turner.
“I’m happy with the team,” Guerrero stated. “I’m concentrating more on my game and making sure I’m putting my best foot forward.”
Toronto had made greater adjustments in its teaching ranks, shifting Don Mattingly from bench coach to offensive coordinator, hiring Carlos Febles as third base coach and DeMarlo Hale as affiliate supervisor, and selling Matt Hague from Triple-A Buffalo to function assistant hitting coach.
Guerrero stated he has excessive hopes for a bounce-again season from proper-hander Alek Manoah. The 2022 AL Cy Young Award finalist was demoted to the rookie-degree Florida Complex League final June after going 1-7 with a 6.36 ERA. Manoah went 2-2 with a 4.91 ERA in seven begins after rejoining the large league roster in July, then didn’t pitch once more at any degree after being optioned to Triple-A in August.
“I’m excited for his return,” Guerrero stated. “Obviously he’s had his lows and his highs as a pitcher but he’s always giving it his all, and I really like that about him.”
After Toronto’s playoff exit final October, normal supervisor Ross Atkins stated Manoah had obtained an injection to alleviate discomfort in his shoulder, and that a number of checks had revealed no structural injury.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)
