In an impressive move, the Toronto Blue Jays have secured a significant long-term contract with Vladimir Guerrero Jr., agreeing to a 14-year deal worth $500 million. This contract will commence in 2026 and removes Guerrero from what could have been a blockbuster free-agent market in the coming seasons.
The deal, confirmed by an anonymous source, indicates that there is no deferred money involved. Earlier this year, Guerrero had signed a one-year contract for $28.5 million to avoid arbitration. Despite initially declaring that he would not engage in contract talks after spring training began in mid-February, negotiations with his agent extended into the regular season.
Guerrero’s agreement now stands as the third-largest in terms of total contract value, only trailing the likes of Juan Soto’s monumental $765 million, 15-year contract with the New York Mets and Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million, 10-year heavily deferred deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Guerrero’s deal has an average annual value of $35.71 million, placing it eighth among current MLB contracts, ranking below major deals for players like Ohtani and Soto.
At just 26 years old, Guerrero, a son of former Hall of Fame player Vladimir Guerrero, was in line to hit free agency this fall. Over his career, Guerrero has proven to be a formidable player with a batting average of .277 accompanied by 160 home runs and 511 runs batted in. Although the current season began slowly for him, with a .256 average and no home runs in his first 10 games, the Blue Jays display confidence in his long-term impact.
Aiming for their first World Series victory since the early 1990s, Toronto has been active in bolstering their roster despite missing out on high-profile targets like Ohtani and Soto. The Blue Jays have also made strategic signings, including Anthony Santander for five years at $92.5 million, Max Scherzer for one year at $15.5 million, and Jeff Hoffman for three years totaling $33 million. Meanwhile, shortstop Bo Bichette remains eligible for free agency following the conclusion of the current World Series.