The most pressing question heading into the 2025 season for the Toronto Blue Jays is what will happen with Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s potential extension?
Guerrero Jr. gave the Blue Jays a deadline of the beginning of Spring Training to get a deal done – the two sides couldn’t agree. Since then, the negotiation details have been leaked, with the superstar first baseman originally saying he wants less than $600 million before The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported that Guerrero Jr. wants $500 million in present-day value.
A few hours before on the same day, New York Post’s Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman reported that the Blue Jays offered $500 million, but with heavy deferrals, which brought the present-day value to $400-$450 million.
That’s just a brief introduction to what has been a wild media circus, and it’ll only get worse as long as Guerrero Jr. remains unsigned through the season.
Well, on Wednesday afternoon, Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins had a media availability with the most notable quote being about Guerrero Jr.’s potential contract extension:
“I have hope. That’s how I feel.”
The next logical deadline to get an extension done is by Thursday’s Opening Day. While it remains to be seen if the two parties can agree to a deal, Héctor Gómez reported on Mar. 17 that the Blue Jays were prepared to give Guerrero Jr. a deal between $550 million and $600 million, which should’ve always been taken with a grain of salt.
This saga will continue throughout the season. Every road game, Guerrero Jr. will likely be asked about how he thinks of whatever city he’s in, and the news cycle starts again. Ideally, the Blue Jays should meet his demand if $500 million in present-day value is correct.
He’s been rather inconsistent throughout his career, producing two superstar-calibre seasons in 2021 and 2024, but the impact in drawing fans to the newly renovated Rogers Centre is a big enough reason for the Jays to get an extension done.
Recently, the Blue Jays locked up Alejandro Kirk for five more seasons after this season, and hopefully, Guerrero Jr. is next to sign a long-term extension.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. They can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.