(670 The Score) Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. agreed to a 14-year, $500-million contract extension with Toronto late Sunday night, according to reports.
Jon Heyman of the New York Post and MLB Network believes Cubs star right fielder and free agent-to-be Kyle Tucker is a better player than Guerrero, so the math is simple from there. Those interested in signing the 28-year-old Tucker, a three-time All-Star, to a long-term deal are going to need to spend at least $500 million, Heyman told the Mully & Haugh Show on Monday morning.
Heyman could even see Tucker’s next contract being closer to the $765-million deal that star right fielder Juan Soto signed with the Mets than the $500-million deal that Guerrero landed with his Blue Jays.
“I do think he’s a better comp for Soto than Vlad is as a right fielder,” Heyman said. “The WAR is fairly similar. I will say this – Soto has more cache, he has a championship, he’s been in two World Series.
“I think Soto is going to keep the record (contract). I do think Kyle Tucker is the better player than Vlad Guerrero. I love Vlad Guerrero, he’s great, he’s a superstar. I think Tucker is better than Vlad Guerrero.
“Vlad signed back with old team. Could he have gotten more? I’m not sure that he could have. I think he did great.
“Tucker will be a free agent. I think we’re looking at, I’m sure from their (Tucker camp) perspective, 500 (million) as the absolute baseline.”
Tucker is off to a superb start with the Cubs, hitting .319 with five homers, 15 RBIs, 13 runs and a 1.202 OPS in 12 games as Chicago is off to a 7-5 start, which leads the NL Central early on.