This isn’t the news Toronto Blue Jays fans wanted to hear. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is getting closer to free agency, and the Blue Jays couldn’t reach a deal before his self-imposed deadline. Now, the Jays must compete with 29 other teams for his future. And, with the kind of numbers that Guerrero’s been putting up? Well, good luck with that.
Here’s a quick rundown of Vlady’s last four seasons:
- 4 All-Star selections
- 1 Gold Glove
- 2 Silver Sluggers
- Home Run Derby champ and All-Star Game MVP
- 712 hits (second in MLB behind Freddie Freeman)
- 1,271 total bases (third behind Ohtani and Judge)
- 136 home runs and 405 RBIs (both top six in MLB)
Losing Guerrero Jr. Is a Huge Blow to Toronto
Vlady is a beast, and Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins isn’t happy about this recent turn of events. In short, he shouldn’t be. Is losing someone like Guerrero a huge fielding error? That would also be a huge hit for the team, but not in a good way. The team has just come off a rough 74-88 season and has missed out on big-name free agents.
Losing their homegrown franchise player like Guerrero Jr. would devastate the Blue Jays. With shattered salary records—highlighted by Juan Soto’s massive $765 million deal with the Mets—Guerrero’s price tag is only set to rise. Toronto’s current $340 million offer isn’t even close to meeting expectations.
With all the questions the Blue Jays’ front office is facing, one stands out. How will they retain their generational superstar?
Guerrero Wanted to Stay in Toronto
For years, Guerrero has made it clear that he wants to spend the remainder of his career in Toronto. This isn’t a new story. He’s been vocal about it since early in his career. The 4x All-Star even gave the team a deadline for when he expected to see a deal done, along with the figures required to seal the deal. The ball was in the Blue Jays’ field of play, and they muffed it.
The pressure to keep Guerrero in Toronto has never been higher. But there might be some good news. Guerrero’s deadline wasn’t set in stone. Who’s to say that if the Blue Jays come through with a better offer, talks might start back up?
But what happens if they do not? It’s looking like Toronto might lose one of the game’s brightest stars to free agency. And that’s not something this team can afford, especially with how things have been going.
Without Vlady, this could begin another challenging rebuild for the Blue Jays.
