Blue Jays announce record 14-year, $500M US extension with star slugger Guerrero Jr.

The Toronto Blue Jays have locked up slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to a long-term contract extension that could see the face of the franchise spend his entire career with Canada's lone big-league team.

Two days after reports surfaced the two sides had agreed to a deal, the Blue Jays made it official Wednesday afternoon by confirming Guerrero has signed a 14-year extension worth $500 million US.

"This is a monumental moment in franchise history," team president Mark Shapiro said in a statement. "Vlad has been part of our Blue Jays family since he was 16 years old and has captured the heart of our city and country.

"There are very few in the game today that can say they have played for more than two decades with the same team, and we are immensely grateful Blue Jays fans will get to see Vlad finish his career where it all began. The name Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will forever be synonymous with the Toronto Blue Jays."

The deal is the most lucrative in team history, far surpassing the $150-million, six-year deal that outfielder George Springer signed as a free agent in January 2021.

The extension is the third largest deal in total dollars behind Juan Soto's MLB-record $765-million, 15-year deal and Shohei Ohtani's $700-million, 10-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers that began last year and is heavily deferred.

Guerrero is in the final year of his current contract that pays him $28.5 million. Without an extension, the four-time all-star could have hit free agency this fall.

"I love our Blue Jays fans," Guerrero said. "They have supported me my whole career and made me feel appreciated every day. My family and I have a special connection to our second home in Toronto, and I feel fortunate to carry on my dad's legacy and represent an entire country.

"I am very proud to wear the Maple Leaf and to be part of an organization with the same goal — to bring World Series championships back to Canada."

The Blue Jays last won the Fall Classic in 1993. They reached the wild-card round in three of the last five seasons but haven't won a post-season game since 2016.

WATCH | Blue Jays lock up Guerrero Jr. to record 14-year extension:

Toronto is coming off a last-place finish in the American League East. The Blue Jays, who started the day on top of the division standings at 7-5, were scheduled to visit the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday night.

Former Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos signed Guerrero as a 16-year-old in July 2015.

The Montreal native, who represents the Dominican Republic internationally, hit .323 last season with 30 homers and 103 RBIs. Since 2021, he's the American League leader in hits (733), and ranks second in total bases (1,286) and third in home runs (136).