DUNEDIN, Fla. — Following the missed deadline for establishing a long-term deal, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is set to enter free agency after this season. The four-time All-Star first baseman expressed his desire to remain with the Toronto Blue Jays, stating, “I want to be here. I want to be a Blue Jay for the rest of my career.” However, he acknowledged the realities of free agency and the competition that comes with it, mentioning that he would be open to offers from the other 29 teams in the league.
Currently, Guerrero has a one-year contract worth $28.5 million, positioning him as one of the top free agents expected to hit the market. This follows a record-setting contract signed by Juan Soto, which involved a whopping $765 million over 15 years with the New York Mets just a year earlier. Approaching his 26th birthday next month, Guerrero mentioned that his last communication with the Blue Jays occurred late Monday evening, with little progress made on a potential contract agreement.
“I have my number all along,” Guerrero revealed. “I changed it a little bit. I tried, but it still didn’t happen.” He firmly believes in his worth, expressing disappointment that the front office was not willing to meet his expectations during negotiations. “It wasn’t the number I was looking for. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen,” he added.
The player had previously indicated that he would cease negotiations upon arriving for spring training to avoid any distractions for his teammates. “I’m here today and I’m ready. I want to win a lot of games and I want to make it to the playoffs. That’s all that’s in my head right now,” he stated.
Last season, Guerrero’s impressive performance included a .323 batting average, a .940 OPS, along with 30 home runs and 103 RBIs. Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro shared his disappointment over the inability to finalize a deal, noting that the two sides could not agree on a mutual number, emphasizing that negotiations either finish with an agreement or they don’t finish at all.
Despite the situation, Shapiro reassured fans that the team is not looking to trade Guerrero. “Our only focus now is winning with Vladdy,” he affirmed. Having developed through the Toronto system and debuted in 2019, Guerrero holds a career batting average of .288, with an OPS of .863, 160 home runs and 507 RBIs.
“I’ll do anything, everything I have, to stay here with the Blue Jays. I love it here. I want to be here,” Guerrero declared, stating that he plans to stay focused on the season ahead rather than pondering free agency.
The negotiations involved Shapiro, team chairman Edward Rogers, and CEO of Rogers Communications Inc., Tony Staffieri. General manager Ross Atkins expressed that the team’s proposals were competitive. “The offers we made for Vlad would have been record-setting and made him one of the highest-paid players in the game,” Atkins said, asserting that their approach was aggressive.
Guerrero is following in the footsteps of his father, Vladimir Guerrero, a Hall of Famer and nine-time All-Star who earned the AL MVP award in 2004. Meanwhile, players on the Toronto roster hope Guerrero’s contract situation won’t detract from their season. Pitcher Kevin Gausman noted, “We know, without a doubt, he’s a Blue Jay this year,” although he acknowledged the potential distractions that may arise. Still, he believes Guerrero is centered on performing well on the field.
As practice commenced on Tuesday, Guerrero appeared upbeat, engaging with teammates and sharing light-hearted moments. One enthusiastic fan even offered from the stands, “I’d write you a blank check if I had the money.” The Blue Jays also expect to revisit contract talks with Guerrero after the conclusion of the World Series. Shapiro stated, “We are certainly positioned well. We have the financial wherewithal to pursue the contracts we want to pursue.”
