Toronto Blue Jays infielder Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has decided to forgo a contract extension before his self-imposed deadline, setting his sights on free agency after the 2025 MLB season. Despite an impressive 2024 campaign, Guerrero revealed that the Blue Jays’ offer fell far short of his expectations, as reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Last season, Guerrero finished sixth in American League MVP voting, driving in 103 runs and posting a 166 OPS+ that ranked fifth in the majors. At just 25 years old, Guerrero will hit free agency at the same age Juan Soto did this offseason, before signing a record-breaking 15-year, $765 million deal with the New York Mets.
Although Guerrero isn’t considered on the same level as Soto, one MLB insider believes he could still land a contract exceeding $600 million. Jon Heyman of the *New York Post*, speaking on a Bleacher Report stream, suggested that a team will “gonna have to be in the sixes” to sign Guerrero. “At this point with Soto at $765 million, I think it’s probably gonna have to be in the sixes to sign [Guerrero],” Heyman said. “I think probably $600 million, plus.”
Heyman identified three teams as the most likely suitors for Guerrero: the Blue Jays, New York Mets, and Boston Red Sox. “My guesses would be Red Sox,” Heyman said. “I don’t know what their thoughts are on [Triston] Casas… He was out there on the trade market, so that’s no impediment to signing Vlad Guerrero Jr. Mets, I know they say they’re gonna be more cautious spending… The Jays, I think he likes the Jays… To me, those are the three teams.”
However, the Mets have indicated they plan to be more cautious with their spending moving forward, and the Blue Jays have already shown reluctance to meet Guerrero’s $600 million asking price. This leaves the Red Sox as a potential frontrunner, especially if they’re willing to make a splash in free agency. As Guerrero’s free agency approaches, the race to sign one of baseball’s brightest young stars is sure to heat up.
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