The Toronto Blue Jays and superstar First Baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. failed to reach an agreement on an extension before the slugger’s self-imposed Monday deadline. It is unclear why the Blue Jays star decided that Monday was the deadline for a contract. He has been clear that he has no plans to negotiate a contract extension during the regular season, but Spring Training has just begun.
In December, Toronto offered Guerrero Jr. a $340 million contract extension which he dismissed. The perennial all-star is set to make $28.5 million for the 2025 season before becoming a free agent this fall. Guerrero Jr. has made it clear that he wants to remain in Toronto, but the club must come up with a competitive offer to retain his services. How will this situation resolve itself?
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Career Summary
When asked if the Blue Jays were close to the contract number Vladimir Guerrero Jr. would have signed, his one-word answer: “No.”
Still, Guerrero said he would re-sign in free agency and wants to be a Blue Jay for life. He also said: Now, they’ll have to beat 29 other teams.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 18, 2025
Guerrero Jr. has been one of the best players in the league since he made his Major League debut in 2019. He is a four-time MLB All-Star, a two-time Silver Slugger, and a Gold Glove winner. He is coming off a great 2024 season with the Toronto Blue Jays. He was second in the league in batting average, 13th in RBI, and sixth in OPS.
After a down 2022 and 2023 season, by his standards, the star player bounced back in a big way last season. He will look to build upon a strong 2024 campaign. Guerrero Jr. will be more motivated than ever with hundreds of millions of dollars hanging in the balance.
Final Thoughts
Even though the parties could not agree last night, this saga is not over. There are still many months standing between Guerrero Jr. and free agency. He and the team could come to an agreement at any point between now and November. The fate of Guerrero Jr. lies in his hands. He could play hardball with the team and not negotiate until he is a free agent, or he could continue discussions with the team in the hopes of coming to terms on a deal that both sides are happy with.
