By signing Vladimir Guerrero Jr. for a 14-year, $500 million contract, the Toronto Blue Jays made a statement. They wanted to develop a generational talent, focusing on the long-term commitment. The deal, as expected, sparked some serious debates about whether they made the right decision or not. Amid all the chatter going around the contract, an MLB insider has spoken about it, putting the blame on Juan Soto and Shohei Ohtani. Think that makes sense? 

Well, ever since Soto signed the 15-year, $765 million contract with the Mets and Ohtani for a 10-year, $700 million contract, the market dynamics have changed a lot. Nowadays, a $500 million deal looks like a normal thing for many teams. However, it cannot be denied that the reason the Blue Jays signed Vladdy Jr. is because they were unable to fetch either Soto or Ohtani.

During a recent “Baseball Tonight with Buster Olney” podcast, MLB insider Jeff Passan said he never felt that Vladdy Jr. would fetch a $300 million contract previously. However, it looked like the Blue Jays had some other plans. Vladdy Jr. is just 26 years of age and going by his 2024 record, the Blue Jays made the call. Passan further said, “Juan Soto pushed the market so far beyond what it was that he paid for Vladimir Guerrero Jr to draft in his wake.”

But that’s definitely not the only reason to sign Vladimir Guerrero Jr. First of all, in 2024, Vladdy Jr. batted at a .323 average and posted 30 home runs, 103 RBIs, a .396 OBP and a .940 OPS. And in 2025, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has played 14 games for the Toronto Blue Jays, posting a .278 batting average with 15 hits, including 3 doubles, and 5 RBIs. While he hasn’t hit a home run yet this season, his on-base percentage stands at .355, and his OPS is .688. Notably, Guerrero Jr. maintains a hard-hit rate of 53.3% and an average exit velocity of 91.2 mph, indicating strong contact despite the lack of home runs. While Ohtani and Soto may have superior stats in certain areas, Guerrero Jr.’s consistent performance underscores his value.

While it’s not about assigning blame to Soto or Ohtani for Guerrero Jr.’s extension, Passan’s insights certainly provide food for thought. It cannot be ignored that the Toronto Blue Jays weren’t able to sign big stars like Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto, or Roki Sasaki in free agency. That also puts them under the radar, failing to get hold of the best players, despite having a good reputation in the market. They were unable to prepare a good roster, which might have affected their games as well. Finally, after extending Vladdy Jr.’s contract for such a huge amount, a half-billion contract now looks quite easy, doesn’t it?

Maybe! However, Vladdy Jr’s contract extension can have some profound effects on the market and also impact the Blue Jays’ pursuit of free agents in the upcoming times too.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr may impact the pursuit of free agents in future

Ever since Vladdy Jr.’s contract extension happened, people have been speculating about some good things to happen. Many are even predicting that the Blue Jays might get some big players in next year’s free agency trade. During a Foul Territory episode, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic shed light on the Blue Jays “clear plan” of developing the roster. “With Guerrero Jr there, it seems to me that they’ll have a better chance with free agents,” Rosenthal was quoted saying. It’s true because the Blue Jays haven’t deferred any money, and they have a good amount of cash in hand to spend next season.

As the Blue Jays continue to fine-tune their roster, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. stands as the linchpin of their lineup. His recent 14-year, $500 million contract extension not only underscores his value but also sets the stage for future team decisions. One pressing matter is the status of shortstop Bo Bichette, who is entering the final year of his three-year, $33.6 million contract. The front office faces a pivotal choice: negotiate an extension to keep Bichette alongside Guerrero Jr. or risk losing him to free agency. General Manager Ross Atkins has expressed optimism about retaining Bichette, stating, “We will do everything in our power to see if we can line up.” This sentiment fuels speculation about the potential for Bichette to continue his tenure with the team.

What are your thoughts on Vladdy Jr.’s contract extension? Do let us know in the comments below.