Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Toronto Blue Jays Strike Historic Deal
In a move that has sent shockwaves through the baseball world, the Toronto Blue Jays have secured the future of their franchise by agreeing to a monumental 14-year, $500 million contract extension with their star first baseman, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.. This deal, pending a physical, was reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan on Sunday night and marks a significant commitment to keeping Guerrero in Toronto for the entirety of his career.
As the Blue Jays find themselves at a 5-5 record, they are currently on a road trip that will see them face off against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. This contract extension is a testament to the Blue Jays’ dedication to building a team around their homegrown talent, and it comes at a time when the team is looking to solidify its position in the American League East.
Guerrero, who is 26 years old, has already made a name for himself as a four-time All-Star and the son of Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero. Despite initially stating that he would not negotiate during the season after failing to reach an agreement before spring training, both sides continued discussions and ultimately reached a deal. This contract is now the third largest in Major League Baseball history, trailing only Juan Soto‘s 15-year, $765 million contract with the New York Mets and Shohei Ohtani‘s 10-year, $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
For the Blue Jays, this long-term commitment to Guerrero is a significant win, especially after missing out on signing Soto and Ohtani in recent years. Guerrero has been a key player for Toronto since his debut shortly after his 20th birthday in 2019, where he hit 15 home runs as a rookie. His breakout season came in 2021, finishing second to Ohtani in American League MVP voting with a .311/.401/.601 slash line, 48 home runs, and 111 RBIs.
Although Guerrero experienced a couple of seasons that fell short of expectations in 2022 and 2023, he bounced back in 2024. Over his last 116 games that year, he returned to his 2021 form, hitting .343/.407/.604 with 26 home runs and 84 RBIs. This resurgence has undoubtedly played a role in the Blue Jays’ decision to lock him in for the long haul.
Currently, the Blue Jays’ payroll is expected to exceed the luxury tax threshold of $241 million, and they ended the first week of the season atop the American League East standings. Despite a loss to the Mets that dropped them to 5-3, Guerrero’s performance, including a pair of singles that raised his season slash line to .267/.343/.367, remains a bright spot for the team.
With Bo Bichette set to become a free agent after the 2025 season, the Blue Jays faced a potential crossroads. While Bichette is expected to play out the season before testing free agency, Guerrero’s extension eases the sting of missing out on Ohtani and Soto.
- Toronto’s roster retooling included:
- Signing outfielder Anthony Santander to a five-year, $92.5 million contract.
- Bringing in future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer on a one-year, $15.5 million deal.
- Bolstering the bullpen with right-handers Jeff Hoffman and Yimi Garcia.
- Trading for Platinum Glove-winning second baseman Andres Gimenez.
These moves, along with Guerrero’s extension, provide the Blue Jays with significant financial flexibility moving forward. With several key players, including Bichette and Scherzer, set to become free agents after this season, and the contracts of George Springer and Kevin Gausman coming off the books after 2026, Toronto is well-positioned to build around Guerrero.
Guerrero’s impressive stats speak for themselves. He is one of only a dozen players in MLB with at least two seasons of six or more wins above replacement since 2021. Known for his ability to consistently hit the hardest balls, Guerrero’s skills are reminiscent of his father’s, who hit 449 home runs and batted .318 over a 16-year career. In his six MLB seasons, Guerrero has hit .288/.363/.499 with 160 home runs, 510 RBIs, and 559 strikeouts against 353 walks.
Originally a third baseman, Guerrero transitioned to first base during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. With the extension in place, the 6-foot-2, 245-pound Guerrero is expected to remain at first base, resetting a market previously topped by the eight-year, $248 million extension Miguel Cabrera signed just shy of his 31st birthday in 2014.
Originally Written by: Jeff Passan
