feature-image
feature-image

While Vladimir Guerrero Jr. shared his self-imposed deadline of February 17 to end the discussion with the Blue Jays, look at the date today – things are far from over! And Vladdy’s recent update only ignited the conversations a bit more! 

Watch What’s Trending Now!

Guerrero’s asking price of $500 million is something the Jays are still still skeptical about. If you remember, rumors were also out there that the Jays’ contention for Guerrero is over, and a free agency is inevitable post-2025 season. But President Mark Shapiro’s recent remarks have made fans hopeful again. 

ADVERTISEMENT

Expectedly, the team is going all out to retain Guerrero. I think we’re going to extend him,” Sapiro shared. Well, that sounds positive and signals the team’s willingness to sign Guerrero.

And now, Vladdy has also cleared his stance with the Jays. MLB insider Hazel Mae reported that Guerrero said, Not going to shut the door on them… I’ll be open. But I’m going to leave that to my agents to work with that. I’m just going to be on the field, focusing on my teammates, on my team, on my game.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Hope from everywhere! While Vlad’s emotions are understandable with the Jays and of course, his “optimistic” outlook, wondering why the team might be willing to invest the amount?

ADVERTISEMENT

Well, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. got numbers on his side to lead the talks. Just last year, he won his second Silver Slugger Award, had his fourth consecutive All-Star season, and came in sixth in the AL MVP voting. With 30 home runs, 103 RBIs, a .544 slugging percentage, and a .396 on-base percentage, he hit .323 in 159 games. Moreover, he has been playing for the Jays since his debut, scoring 160 home runs and 507 RBIs in 819 games. That’s too big a number to lose for the Blue Jays.

The Blue Jays’ postseason run can make a deal for Guerrero

What would it take for the Jays to retain Guerrero? Matching $500 million might not be the only thing out there. It is also a successful postseason run that can make a deal.

ADVERTISEMENT

As per MLB insider Rob Longley, a winning team” is what Guerrero is looking forward to. The Blue Jays last won a World Series in 1993, and their last postseason run was in 2016. So, Guerrero, in his six seasons with the Jays is yet to get a postseason taste. Might be a reason for him to go for a better contending team. Just mentioning!

ADVERTISEMENT

But this season, the Jays have got some good names on their roster.

With Max Scherzer, Andrés Giménez, Jeff Hoffman, and Anthony Santander, they have made a good noise. This lineup has the potential to be very strong because Guerrero and Bo Bichette are still there, and Scherzer’s acquisition completes their intimidating rotation with Chris Bassitt, José Berríos, and Kevin Gausman. Seems like the Jays are showing an intention to go big this year.  

ADVERTISEMENT

Guerrero is still willing to play with the Jays considering they find a common ground. Once that is worked out, fans can bet on the team this year for a better postseason run. Right?  

Share this with a friend:

Link Copied!

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Written by

author-image

Sourav Kumar Ghatak

1,908 Articles

Sourav Kumar Ghatak is an MLB writer at EssentiallySports, reporting from the MLB desk with a focus on delivering engaging daily baseball content. Known for his versatility, Sourav covers a wide range of baseball topics, blending strategic analysis with compelling storytelling. He is recognized for his sharp instinct in capturing the essence of key moments, including recent work on stars like Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani. Sourav holds a postgraduate in Marketing. Prior to joining EssentiallySports, he worked as a professional freelancer and project manager team lead, gaining extensive experience in leadership and content development. He continues to grow as a key voice in baseball journalism, combining his passion for the sport with his marketing expertise to create impactful content.

Know more

Edited by

editor-image

Ahana Chatterjee

ADVERTISEMENT