The pressure is mounting for the Toronto Blue Jays to sign Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to a contract extension before he hits free agency.
The four-time All-Star has given the franchise a firm deadline of February 18 — the team’s first full-squad workout — to reach an agreement. If no deal is reached, Guerrero has stated he will end negotiations and test free agency after the season.
Earlier this offseason, Guerrero reportedly rejected a $340 million extension offer from Toronto, setting the stage for intense negotiations.
With time running out, Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins addressed the ongoing discussions between the two sides.
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GM: Toronto Blue Jays ‘will never close the door’ on signing Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Atkins chose his words carefully when discussing the negotiations with Guerrero.
“We’ve worked extremely hard on keeping Vlad here for a long time,” Atkins told reporters, via ESPN.com. “The desire is strong, and we will continue to do that. We will never close the door.”
He added: “Everything needs to be factored in, but it needs to be factored in historically and not reactively. Being disciplined to our valuations, being disciplined to how we think about building the best possible roster, there’s so many variables.”
Guerrero, who will make $28.5 million this season, is coming off a 2024 campaign where he hit 30 home runs while posting a .940 OPS and 166 OPS+. Along with Chicago Cubs’ Kyle Tucker, he is expected to be among the most sought-after free agents following the 2025 season. The recent record-breaking $765 million contract signed by Juan Soto with the New York Mets has likely raised the bar for elite player contracts.
The Blue Jays now have just three days to secure an extension before the situation potentially overshadows their entire season.
