Toronto Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins was busy Friday. He agreed to one-year pacts with nine players to avoid salary arbitration, including star Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
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The offspring of the Montreal Expos legend have agreed to a pact worth $14.5 million, according to Sportsnet.
Guerrero Jr. had a slight drop in 2022, but he still posted a .274 batting average. He also hit 32 long balls and hit 97 runs in 160 games.
Among the other players who signed at the end of an agreement on Friday, the names of Jordan Romano, Danny Jansen and Daulton Varsho are those who are getting the most attention.
Romano, 29, was one of the top relievers in major league baseball in 2022. He made the All-Star Game with a brilliant 2.11 ERA in 63 games. The giant-sized gunner will be on a salary of $4.5 million next season.
Varsho, meanwhile, signed a deal worth $3.05 million. He was acquired in a big deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks during the holiday season. In exchange for promising Gabriel Moreno and veteran Lourdes Gurriel Jr., the Jays got their hands on a superb defender in Varsho. The 26-year-old fielder also had 74 RBIs and 27 long runs last season while maintaining a .235 batting average.
For his part, Jansen, the trusted receiver of the Queen City team alongside Alejandro Kirk, will be paid $3.5 million under the new deal.
Infielders Santiago Espinal ($2.1 million) and Cavan Biggio ($2.8 million) extended their Toronto stints, as did assists Tim Mayza ($2.1 million), Trevor Richards (1 $.5 million) and Trent Thornton ($1 million).