Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Toronto Blue Jays are at a critical juncture. The clock is ticking as Guerrero’s contract is set to expire at the end of the 2025 season. If the Blue Jays fail to strike a deal, their star first baseman could leave and go anywhere. Losing one of the brightest talents in the franchise and the whole of MLB would be a major blow for the franchise. Hence, the talks have already started between the teams.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic has confirmed that while no deal is set in stone, the negotiations have started. “The Jays are in talks with Guerrero about a long-term extension that would buy him out of his final year of arbitration and free agency. They are fielding interest in Bichette, who also is entering his walk year. And they are at least on the periphery of the Bregman sweepstakes, though other free agents, for now, appear better fits,” Rosenthal noted. However, it’s not going to be cheap landing him, especially after the Juan Soto deal ended in a $765 million contract, according to the journalist

Ken Rosenthal recently was at the Foul Territory podcast with Eric Kratz and mentioned that the stakes couldn’t be higher. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. isn’t the face of the franchise but the heart of the lineup. Knowing this, Guerrero Jr. is looking for a deal that reflects his status. Rosenthal said that while the Jays are trying to exhaust all their resources trying to bring back the four-time All-Star, there is a big question—how much max are the Blue Jays willing to shell out for his contract?

Rosenthal said, “The question in the wake of the Juan Soto signing is what’s the price going to be? If Soto’s contract is $765 (million). Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is going to be a free agent at only a year older during his age 27 season. Does the contract amount to half of Juan Soto’s?”. Not just that, Rosenthal also speculated on the amount Vladimir Guerrero Jr. can demand. A whopping $500 million!

“Maybe the number starts with a five. Are the Jays willing to do that? Is that something that they would entertain?” Rosenthal added. And the Jays well might be up for this deal; after all, this entire off-season they have talked about wanting to do something big. And right now there would be nothing as big as re-signing the face of the franchise, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

The Blue Jays need Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the long run

The Toronto Blue Jays are in a pickle, and it’s not a good one. On one hand, they have shown they want to be competitive, chasing the big-ticket players like Shohei Ohtani last year and Juan Soto this year. But there is a problem—they didn’t land either of them. Plus, Mark Shapiro, club president, has just one more year in the contract, and Ross Atkins has two more years; hence, even the front office is in a dismal position. And they finished last in the AL East in 2024. Alarm bells are ringing for the Toronto Blue Jays.

Hence, locking in Vladimir Guerrero Jr. long-term would be a game-changer. He hit a .323 with 30 home runs and 103 RBIs, but finished sixth in AL MVP voting and is one of the league’s elite hitters. So, it’s obvious they could bet on Guerrero Jr. “Signing Vlad Jr. is the starting point, the foundation, and the centerpiece of what they want to do going forward. They have to know that the Yankees are searching for a first baseman,” Ken Rosenthal explained on the Foul Territory podcast. It would not just solidify the team’s future but also make Toronto an attractive destination for other free agents.

However, the Toronto Blue Jays sure need to move fast if they want to compete for the postseason glory. What do you think will happen? Let us know.