PHOENIX — Lourdes Gurriel Jr. would give up $18 million in guaranteed money if he opts out of his $42 million, three-year contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks after the 2025 season.
His deal, announced Dec. 22, includes a team option for 2027 that could make the agreement worth $51 million over four years.
The All-Star outfielder gets $10 million this year, $14 million in 2025 and $13 million in 2026. The Diamondbacks' 2027 option is for $14 million with a $5 million buyout.
As part of the agreement, Gurriel gets a hotel suite on trips.
Gurriel was acquired from Toronto in December 2022 with catcher Gabriel Moreno in a trade that sent outfielder/catcher Daulton Varsho to the Blue Jays and helped Arizona reach the World Series. Gurriel made his first All-Star team while batting .261 with 24 homers and 82 RBIs. The right-handed batter played solid defense in left field and was popular with fans — in no small part because of his hair, which he dyed bright purple.
Gurriel hit .270 with three homers in the postseason.
The 30-year-old signed a $22 million, seven-year deal with the Blue Jays after defecting from Cuba with older brother Yuli in 2016. He proved to be a bargain, turning into an above-average big league hitter.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB
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Arizona sports
The city of Phoenix is home to five major professional sports league teams; The NFL's Arizona Cardinals, NBA's Phoenix Suns, WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks and NHL's Arizona Coyotes.
The Cardinals have made the State Farm Stadium in Glendale their home turf and the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix is home to both the Suns and the Mercury. The Indoor Football League’s Arizona Rattlers also play at the Footprint. Phoenix has a soccer team with the USL's Phoenix Rising FC.
The Valley hosts multiple major sporting events on a yearly basis, including college football's Fiesta Bowl and Cactus Bowl; the PGA Tour’s highest-attended event, the Waste Management Phoenix Open; NASCAR events each spring and fall; and Cactus League Spring Training.
