Fastball

Blue Jays Vet Says Team Should Focus on Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Then Juan Soto

Speaking at a charity event in Puerto Rico, pitcher Jose Berrios says that Guerrero Jr. should be the priority for Toronto.

Brady Farkas

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Jose Berrios (17) throws against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning at Truist Park on Sept 7.
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Jose Berrios (17) throws against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning at Truist Park on Sept 7. / Brett Davis-Imagn Images
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This offseason, the focus for the Toronto Blue Jays has been on trying to sign free agent slugger Juan Soto.

However, the team shouldn't forget about trying to lock up slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr., according to veteran pitcher Jose Berrios.

"When we sign 'Vlady', we can sign whoever they want. But I think the priority should be Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and, then, if we add Juan Soto, it would be a perfect world,

Berrios made the comments to El Vocero before a charity event in Puerto Rico. It should be noted that the content above has been translated from Spanish to English.

Guerrero Jr., who is headed into the final year of his contract, has been the face of the Blue Jays for years now, and Berrios wants it to stay that way. Guerrero Jr. delivered a monster year at the plate for the Jays, hitting .323 with 30 homers and 103 RBI. He won his second Silver Slugger Award at first base, posting a .396 on-base percentage as well.

The Blue Jays have the resources to sign both Soto and Guerrero Jr., but it remains to be seen if they'd want to invest potentially $1 billion in two players.

As for Soto, he's coming off a season that saw him finish in the top three of American League MVP voting. He hit .288 with 41 homers and 109 RBI for the New York Yankees, who advanced all the way to the World Series.

The 26-year-old Soto is already a World Series (2019) champion and a former batting champion.

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Brady Farkas
BRADY FARKAS

Brady Farkas is a baseball writer for Fastball on Sports Illustrated/FanNation and the host of 'The Payoff Pitch' podcast which can be found on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Videos on baseball also posted to YouTube. Brady has spent nearly a decade in sports talk radio and is a graduate of Oswego State University. You can follow him on Twitter @WDEVRadioBrady. 

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