Is Vladimir Guerrero Jr. really changing the Major League Baseball landscape? This may probably be one of the most hyped questions that’s going through the minds of everyone. But yes, it’s true to some extent. It is a sigh of relief for the Toronto Blue Jays star after getting signed for a $500 million contract extension. While it ensures that he will likely play the rest of his career with the Blue Jays, it’s also something that can cast a dark shadow on MLB. 

Former MLB executive Jim Bowden considers that the massive contractual extension may transform the entire baseball market in the upcoming times. Not only does it raise the expectations of the players, who will look for a contract extension, but it may also cause difficulty for the teams, who cannot spend huge amounts.

No doubt, this deal is dominating headlines—and for good reason. Guerrero’s $500 million contract is nearly ten times what Pete Alonso got from the Mets ($53.5 million over 1 year arbitration deal for 2024). Now, here’s where it gets tricky: as per Bowden; “Guerrero should have been compared to players like Manny Machado, Rafael Devers, Francisco Lindor, Corey Seager, Trea Turner, Fernando Tatis Jr., Bryce Harper, Mookie Betts and Aaron Judge, all of whom signed contracts between $300 million and $365 million.”

It’s true – Vladdy Jr., despite not being at par with some of the MLB legends, has still been getting more than them. Bowden further continued saying, “The Guerrero signing means that impending free agent Kyle Tucker can now expect a contract worth $500 million if he has a strong season. Vlad changed the market for star players forever.” Tucker has scored six home runs at an average of .318, with .419 OBP and 1.055 OPS, which is even better than Vladdy Jr. 

Brad Wakai joined Bowden in expressing doubts about whether players will ever feel the need to enter the free agency market again. The way teams are spending huge amounts on players to keep them in the long run, chances are high that the players will remain with the team, hoping to get a bigger pay cheque.

 While the massive contractual extension continues to bring a lot of hope for many players, Vladdy Jr. expresses his happiness of staying in the “second house”. 

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. calls Canada his second home after blockbuster signing

Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the star player for the Toronto Blue Jays, referred to Canada as his “second house” when he signed a fourteen-year contract with the team on Monday. He was filled with joy and a lot of memories from the past. Guerrero Jr. was born in Montreal 26 years back, when his father used to play for the Expos. Guerrero Jr. said, “I was born here and this is my second house. I’ve spent a lot of time here in Toronto and Canada. When a country gives you love, you’ve got to give the love back, you know? That’s what I’m doing right now.”

He conveyed his profound appreciation to all those who helped make it possible. And now, Vladdy Jr. wants to give it back for the country. The Blue Jays executive chairperson, Edward Rogers, is hopeful of him doing the best for the team, labelling him as “truly a historic franchise player”. He had a tremendous record in 2024, as he batted at an average of .323 and scored 30 home runs and 103 RBIs at a .396 OBP and .940 OPS. Although the 2025 season saw him struggling a bit, he feels relieved after hitting the first homer on Wednesday this season.

That’s probably another reason the Blue Jays’ president Mark Shapiro said, “He’s demonstrated that he’s among the most impressive offensive performers in the game.” The contract is undoubtedly justified as a historic agreement for the franchise and Canada.

While it is too early to say whether Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s $500M deal will create chaos in the market or not, we expect you to create some chaos, sharing your opinions in the comment section below.