The Toronto Blue Jays head into Opening Day with a cloud hanging over the franchise: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. remains unsigned beyond this season.
The four-time All-Star and face of the franchise will hit free agency after the 2025 campaign, potentially walking out the door without Toronto receiving anything in return.
Negotiations during the offseason stalled with the two sides reportedly $50 million apart. Guerrero sought a mammoth 14-year, $500 million present-day value contract, while Toronto countered with an offer containing deferrals that would have approached $450 million in present-day value.
Guerrero established a self-imposed deadline at the start of spring training to complete a deal, though he left the door cracked for future discussions.
As Toronto prepares to host the Baltimore Orioles for Thursday’s season opener, a respected MLB insider has provided fresh intel on where negotiations currently stand.
MLB insider reveals latest contract talks between Blue Jays, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
ESPN’s Buster Olney reports that the Blue Jays have presented another offer to Guerrero, but distance remains between the parties.
The Blue Jays have made another offer in their negotiations with Vladimir Guerrero, per sources; a gap still remains between the two sides.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) March 27, 2025
“The Blue Jays have made another offer in their negotiations with Vladimir Guerrero, per sources; a gap still remains between the two sides,” Olney posted on X.
Olney added crucial context regarding Guerrero’s considerable negotiating leverage.
“Something worth remembering in the Vladimir Guerrero Jr. negotiations — by the end of this season, he will have already made $75 million in his career. He’s got leverage in this moment, because he can talk to all 30 teams at the end of this year. It’s not as if this current negotiation is his one shot at money; it’s not like he’s a 0-2 years service time player getting his first big deal.”
Something worth remembering in the Vladimir Guerrero Jr. negotiations — by the end of this season, he will have already made $75 million in his career. He's got leverage in this moment, because he can talk to all 30 teams at the end of this year. It's not as if this current…
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) March 27, 2025
If the Blue Jays fail to secure an extension by the trade deadline while falling out of playoff contention, teams will undoubtedly flood Toronto’s phone lines inquiring about Guerrero’s availability.
This scenario would trigger massive fan backlash against Toronto’s front office leadership of team president Mark Shapiro and general manager Ross Atkins if they can’t retain their homegrown star. They’ve had a couple of years to get a deal done to no avail.
Through six seasons in Toronto, Guerrero has established himself as an elite offensive force with 160 home runs, an .863 OPS, 137 OPS+, and 21.3 bWAR. The organizational reality is stark: if the Blue Jays let Guerrero walk, they have no internal replacement capable of matching his production.
