The Toronto Blue Jays teased us all offseason with the sweet possibility of a blockbuster. 2024 ended in bitter disappointment, with the Jays falling short. Juan Soto, the megastar outfielder who would’ve immediately made them a World Series contender, ended up in New York. Then there’s Max Fried – packing his bags for the Bronx. And Corbin Burnes? As if that wasn’t the ultimate Blue Jays dagger—he took less money to go to the Diamondbacks.

In the meantime, certain Jays’ moves might not have fans throwing parades. The club got Andres Gimenez and Yimi Garcial. But… is that really the game-changing presence to push them over the edge? Also, Vlad Jr. is only one year away from free agency, and here we are, holding our breath while Ross Atkins and company continue to drag their feet on an extension. But maybe their fate is about to be changed. 

MLB recently stirred some optimism for Blue Jays fans  

During MLB Network’s Hot Stove, Jon Morosi suggested that Toronto might still make a big move, with Carlos Estévez and Jurickson Profar, two fresh faces in the free market, as potential targets. Morosi noted, “The Jays are going to get someone… Whether it’s Estevez, whether it’s Jurickson Profar, there are a number of different free agents out there who I look at, and I believe the Jays have had conversations on as being a fit.” Morosi also pointed out the lack of attention surrounding Profar, calling it “baffling,” especially after the switch-hitter brought energy to the Padres team last year.  

“You see the energy that he brought to the Padres a year ago,” Morosi said, emphasizing that Profar’s versatility could be a key addition to a Blue Jays team in need of more depth. However, while both players would help shore up the roster, neither feels like the “game-changer” Toronto was hoping for after a frustrating 2024 season. Morosi himself acknowledged the variety of options but didn’t seem to suggest that these two would be the final pieces. As Morosi put it, “Whether it’s Estevez or Profar, they’re both of interest right now to the Toronto Blue Jays,” but with Vlad Jr. nearing free agency, Toronto’s window for making a true splash is rapidly closing. 

The waiting game is officially over—at least for now  

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Toronto Blue Jays have reached a $28.5 million agreement for 2025, securing Vladdy’s final year of club control. It’s a massive deal—the third-highest salary for an arbitration-eligible player in MLB history, trailing only Juan Soto’s $31 million in 2024 and Shohei Ohtani‘s $30 million the year before. It’s clear that Vladdy’s earned every penny of this raise, and then some…

To put it into perspective, Guerrero’s salary this time around is a big leap from the $19.9 million he won in arbitration last season, where he bested the Jays’ $18.05 million submission. It was a bit of a tense moment for both sides, but now that it’s settled, there’s one less thing to worry about. Still, while this agreement puts to bed any discussions of 2025 salary, the real story here is what comes next. Guerrero is just a year away from free agency, and while this deal shows the Jays are committed to keeping him in the fold for one more season, the looming question remains: can the club lock him down long-term? 

For now, though, fans can breathe a little easier knowing their beloved Vladdy is set for another year of crushing it at Rogers Centre. The next step? Hopefully, locking him up for the future. Because after this kind of payday, the pressure is on Toronto to show Vladdy that his home is still north of the border. And if they want to make sure his bat stays in the club for the long haul, they better get to work.