Vladimir Guerrero Jr. secured a landmark victory in his salary arbitration case, receiving a record $19.9 million payout over the Toronto Blue Jays’ $18.05 million offer.
The decision was made by a three-person panel comprising Scott Buchheit, Walt De Treux, and Jeanne Charles following arguments presented a day earlier. With this ruling, players now hold a 6-2 advantage in arbitration hearings this year, with 10 cases still pending.
This payout surpasses the previous high awarded in a hearing, which was the $14 million granted to Seattle outfielder Teoscar Hernández after he lost his case last year.
As a three-time All-Star first baseman, Guerrero recorded a .264 batting average with 26 home runs and 94 RBIs last season, earning a salary of $14.5 million. He is set to become a free agent after the 2025 season.
The younger Guerrero, who turns 25 next month and is the son of Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero, has amassed a .279 batting average with 130 home runs and 404 RBIs over five seasons with the Blue Jays.
His standout season was in 2021, when he tied for the major league lead with 48 home runs and posted a .311 batting average with 111 RBIs. Guerrero also earned a Gold Glove in 2022 and won last year’s All-Star Home Run Derby in Seattle, emulating his father’s achievement in 2007 in San Francisco.
Meanwhile, utilityman J.D. Davis awaits a decision in his arbitration case. Davis seeks a raise from $4.21 million to $6.9 million, whereas the San Francisco Giants offered $6.55 million.
The panel, consisting of Joshua Gordon, Margaret Brogan, and Brian Keller, is expected to announce their decision soon. Davis, who hit .248 with 18 home runs and 69 RBIs last year in his first full season with the Giants, is eligible for free agency after this year’s World Series.
