A former MLB executive thinks Toronto Blue Jays All-Star Vladimir Guerrero is out of his mind if he thinks he will get a deferral-free deal worth $500 million next winter.
It was another eventful offseason in MLB over the last few months. Juan Soto received a record-shattering $765 million deal from the New York Mets. Max Fried scored the biggest contract ever for a lefty from the New York Yankees. Garrett Crochet was finally traded from the Chicago White Sox. And Alex Bregman got a stunning contract from the Boston Red Sox that will make him the highest paid third baseman ever, by far.
The current focus of most around baseball is on the start of the new season at the end of the month. Yet, that doesn’t mean they aren’t keeping an eye on next offseason and the impact players that could be available. The biggest fish in the 2025 free agent market will be Toronto Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero.
A new report this week claimed that the four-time All-Star plans on asking for a contract worth $500 million this winter. Furthermore, he does not want it to include deferrals. It would mean he could get a deal that likely pays him more annually than reigning NL MVP Shohei Ohtani. That is an idea former Miami Marlins president David Samson believes is not at all grounded in reality.
Also Read: Vladimir Guererro Jr’s contract demands revealed by top MLB insider
David Samson suggests Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is crazy if he thinks he will get a $500 million contract
“Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will not get a present value contract of $500 million in free agency,” Samson said on his Nothing Personal podcast. “… $500 million as a free agent seems reasonable these days. Except, he wants $500 million without deferrals. Meaning he wants a present-day contract bigger than Shohei Ohtani. For Guerrero to say he wants 500 in present day value, he is in Emma Stone land. Total la la.
“You know what you’re getting with Guerrero. There is a level of inconsistency. There’s a worry about the body. There’s a worry about where he’ll play on the field,” he added. “There is nothing he can do to increase his value other than playing well and making his team better.”
- Vladimir Guerrero stats (2024): .323 AVG, .396 OBP, .544 SLG, .940 OPS, 30 HR, 103 RBI, 98 R
It is a strong rebuke of the rumored asking price. But it does make sense. More than half of Ohtani’s contract will be paid in deferrals. He should be getting paid $70 million a year but will get just over $28 million annually due to deferrals.
A 10-year or 15-year deal worth $500 million a year would be more than Ohtani on an annual basis. Teams like the Toronto Blue Jays or New York Yankees may be open to paying more on a short term deal, but not for the next decade plus.