Did the Toronto Blue Jays make a mistake signing Vladimir Guerrero Jr.? Of course not! But they did make a mistake by delaying in signing him. Not a small mistake, but a pretty expensive one. Wondering why?

You see, we’re in a league where front offices time and again weigh a player’s talent against potential long-term risks. Would you believe that sometimes, one stalled decision can lead to a multimillion-dollar mistake? Yes, it could. Unfortunately, it’s too late for the Blue Jays to learn it now.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today believes if the Blue Jays had signed Guerrero Jr. two years ago, they could have secured him for $300 million. Confusing? Apparently, this two-year delay has cost them a lot more–$200 million to be precise. As for the structure of the contract, Guerrero’s base salary averages $17 million annually over 14 years. And in the last three years, it will drop drastically to just $7 million and $6.25 million. But he will receive $305 million out of a $325 million signing bonus to be paid out over the course of the contract.

To top it all off, some believe Guerrero’s deal has reset the market for free agents. But wait, that’s not it. Last year, Pete Alonso couldn’t secure a $100 million offer even with his vigorous prowess. So, do you think he’ll suddenly get offered $200 million more within just one year? Certainly not.

If Guerrero Jr.’s contract casts any kind of spell, then there are talented players such as J.D. Martinez, David Robertson, and Anthony Rizzo who deserve lucrative deals. Otherwise, they wouldn’t still be waiting for offers from big teams.

Even if the Blue Jays front office made a multimillion-dollar mistake, it cannot be undone now. On the brighter side, they have secured their future by the historic signing of Guerrero Jr. For the time being, Blue Jays fans are looking forward to the second matchup against the Atlanta Braves.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Blue Jays ready to make a comeback

Just one day after Guerrero Jr.’s signing press conference, the celebrations were in order, but so was the matchup against the Braves at Rogers Centre. Well, he didn’t expect it—a painful 8-4 defeat. During the first inning, Guerrero battled a couple of hard-hit balls. But then, he ended up with a batting average of .284 and 7 RBIs after 17 games.

But still, they’ve not lost hope. For the upcoming matchup against the Braves, the Blue Jays are all set to start the right-hander Kevin Gausman for the second game of the three-game series. Gausman has three career starts against the Braves. He sits with a 2.29 ERA. It was the last season when he surrendered three runs across six innings.

On the other end, the Braves have scheduled right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach for the opening. He sits with a 5.40 ERA and has one career start against the Blue Jays. It took place during the previous season when he surrendered three runs across five innings.

Monday’s defeat has fueled the Blue Jays to come back stronger than ever. And for the second game against the Braves, they want all the odds in their favor. Meanwhile, the Braves are awaiting their first winning streak of the season. For both teams, there is no room for errors, and the expectations are relentless.

Let’s see how it turns out! Share your thoughts in the comments.