Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is having a great season.
Since his breakout year in 2021, when he finished second in the AL MVP voting with 48 home runs and 111 RBIs, Guerrero has struggled to maintain a consistent level of performance. His OPS, which was excellent at 1.002 in 2021, dropped to .818 in 2022 and further to .788 in 2023. He performed well at times, but was never able to maintain his best form.
But this year, Guerrero has turned things around. He has emerged as one of the few bright spots in Toronto’s lineup this season, posting a .915 OPS in 110 games. Guerrero is on a roll right now and arguably playing the best baseball of his career.
He is currently on a 16-game hitting streak, batting .525/.588/1.136 with nine home runs and 18 RBIs. His numbers this season are also closer to his 2021 season than the past two, with a wOBA of .391 (compared to .419 in 2021) and a wRC+ of 157 (down slightly from 166 in 2021). Guerrero’s ability to maintain this high level of play throughout the season is an incredibly encouraging sign for Blue Jays fans. Guerrero and the Blue Jays reached arbitration last offseason, agreeing to a $19.9 million salary for 2024. While the two sides have not made much progress toward a long-term extension, the Blue Jays front office has made it clear that they want Guerrero to stay.
General manager Ross Atkins reiterated after Wednesday’s trade deadline that he has no intention of trading Guerrero and wants him to be a part of the team’s future.
Atkins’ actions backed up his words, as the Blue Jays had signaled their intention to focus on acquiring mature major league talent at the trade deadline and become more competitive in the near future. If Guerrero can maintain this level of performance next season, the Blue Jays could not only compete for a playoff spot, but become a serious World Series contender. That’s how big an impact Guerrero has had on this team.
