The Toronto Blue Jays could be on the verge of securing a cornerstone player for the long term.
Although they missed out on superstar free agent Juan Soto, the team seems to be shifting its focus to securing a major extension for homegrown star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. before his current contract expires at the end of the 2025 season.
According to a report from Blue Jays insider Ben Nicholson-Smith on Monday, the 25-year-old first baseman discussed his approach to contract talks during a recent appearance on a Spanish-language sports podcast, stating his intention to finalize a deal before the start of Spring Training.
“Guerrero Jr. says he’s been discussing a possible extension w/ [the] Blue Jays [and] is ‘ready to go’ on a long-term deal for the right offer,” Nicholson-Smith wrote in an X post. “He says he doesn’t plan to negotiate after 1st full day of spring training & Jays front office knows this.”
Speaking to @AbriendoSports
Vlad Guerrero Jr. says he’s been discussing a possible extension w/ Blue Jays & is “ready to go” on a long-term deal for the right offer. Also: he says he doesn’t plan to negotiate after 1st full day of spring training & Jays front office knows this https://t.co/dZsxXA6ghL— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) December 22, 2024
Meanwhile, over the weekend, MLB insider Ken Rosenthal reported that the Blue Jays appear to be working on a deal that would buy out the Montreal native’s final year of arbitration.
“The Jays are in talks with Guerrero about a long-term extension that would buy him out of his final year of arbitration and free agency,” Rosenthal wrote in an article for The Athletic.
“The perception within the industry remains that the Jays are desperate to do something big. Club president Mark Shapiro is in the final year of his contract. General manager Ross Atkins has just two years left.”
While Toronto had a mediocre 2024 season, failing to qualify for the playoffs, Guerrero Jr. posted excellent stats, hitting .323 with 30 homers and 103 RBI.
As a result, few would be surprised to see him take home the largest payday in the franchise’s history. And with the Jays’ Spring Training schedule kicking off on February 22, Guerrero Jr. may put pen to paper sometime in the coming weeks.