Vladdy: Last season was the trailer, this year's the movie
The Toronto Blue Jays enter the 2022 season with sky-high expectations and first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. believes the club is primed to deliver.
"Last year was the trailer. What you are going to see this year is the movie," Guerrero said Thursday, according to The Toronto Sun's Rob Longley.
The Blue Jays missed out on qualifying for the 2021 postseason by one game. They finished with an impressive 91-71 record despite playing home games in Dunedin and Buffalo until the end of July.
The club has been aggressive in improving its roster both before and after the lockout. Toronto signed starting pitchers Kevin Gausman and Yusei Kikuchi, while also adding reliever Yimi Garcia and acquiring third baseman Matt Chapman from the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday.
Guerrero also addressed his long-term future with the Blue Jays.
"All I know is how to hit fastballs and curveballs. The rest I’ll leave to my agent," he said, according to TSN's Scott Mitchell.
The 23-year-old projects to earn $8 million this season in his first year of arbitration and isn't scheduled to reach free agency until 2026.
Guerrero enters 2022 looking to build on a breakout campaign. He finished runner-up to Shohei Ohtani in AL MVP voting, hitting .311/.401/.601 with 48 home runs and 111 RBIs in 161 games.