It looks like the Blue Jays failed to extend Guerrero Jr.; they didn’t just gamble—they invited havoc. On February 18, 2025, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Blue Jays failed to strike a contract extension before his self-imposed deadline. This instance puts Toronto’s homegrown phenom closer to a free agent exit after the season. He established a 9 p.m. Monday deadline for contract talks with the Blue Jays to keep the focus on the team goals and avoid being a distraction.

Interestingly, this instance might just be an opportunity too good to pass for the New York Mets. How exactly? We’ll dive into that shortly. When Mets owner Steve Cohen was asked about Vladimir Guerrero Jr. turning down an extension with the Blue Jays, he replied, “I’ll let my baseball people make that decision.” It was also reported that Guerrero stated, “I had my number all along. I changed it a little bit. But still, it just didn’t happen.” 

Guerrero, who will be 26 years old in the coming month, is 5 months younger than Juan Soto. Soto achieved a record-setting 15-year, $765 million contract from the Mets in December. Moreover, after a never-ending contract negotiation, the Mets brought back none other than Pete Alonso, the longtime first baseman. He got back on a two-year, $54 million deal that will make him $30 million in 2025.

While both sides came out interested in sticking together, Alonso might hit the market again if his season goes well. If it turns out to be like this, the Mets will have to make a critical decision—whether to invest in their 31-year-old fan favorite or offer a substantial contract to Guerrero. “I want to be a Blue Jay for the rest of my career. But it’s free agency. It’s business. I’m going to have to listen to 29 more teams, and they’re going to have to compete,” said Guerrero.

Being unable to secure a long-term contract with Guerrero Jr. has substantially impacted both the franchise and the player. Guerrero Jr. is the cornerstone of Toronto’s lineup for a reason. Year after year, he has delivered exceptional performances. He displayed his prowess with a .323 batting average in 2023, 30 home runs, and 103 RBIs over 159 games. He won a second Silver Slugger Award and a sixth-place finish in the American League MVP voting.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. presents an opportunity too good to pass

It’s time to dive into how Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Blue Jays’ failure to reach a contract extension before the deadline opens doors of opportunity for the Mets. The Mets have evidently showcased their willingness to go all in. Their willingness is backed up by their phenomenal 15-year, $765 million deal for Juan Soto. Given that, the Mets could build one of the most powerful offensive duos in the world of baseball. This bold approach has driven their payroll to somewhere around $325 million for the 2025 season, which substantially surpasses initial projections.

It’s uncertain as of now if the Mets will pursue Guerrero Jr. or not. But with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. officially on track for free agency after turning down an extension with the Blue Jays, anticipations are all around—especially around the New York Mets. They have already created headlines with their crushing records of Juan Soto. Also, Pete Alonso’s future is unpredictable, but Guerrero could become an intriguing option.

Looking at the Mets’ recent financial decisions, their passion to build a championship-caliber team is evident. To create a dominant offensive lineup, considering the uncertainty surrounding Pete Alonso’s future with the team, uniting Guerrero Jr. with the Mets’ roster seems like the right move. Cohen has revealed his intention to reduce the payroll sooner or later to a more sustainable level. The Mets’ front office will need to analyze the potential impact of including Guerrero Jr. in their roster.

All eyes are on the New York Mets for now—will they seize this opportunity of elite talent becoming available? It’s safe to say that players like Guerrero with such high caliber rarely hit free agency this early in their careers.