Could Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Betray Blue Jays, Sign With Mets Next Offseason?
The Toronto Blue Jays failed to come to terms on a long-term contract extension with superstar first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. this offseason. Now, Guerrero is set to land in free agency at the end of the 2025 season. The star has been projected to land a deal worth anywhere between $427 million and $600 million when he hits the open market. Juan Soto reset the free agent market by signing an incredible $765 million deal this offseason. Guerrero will likely try to take advantage of this player friendly market to land a deal worth north of $500 million. When he gets to free agency, the Blue Jays will likely be hot on his tail. Besides Toronto, the New York Yankees,
Boston Red Sox, and New York Mets are expected to be among the teams that make huge offers for the superstar. One of the most intriguing teams in the potential race is the Mets. New York spent nearly a billion dollars this offseason, so it’s tough to imagine it does it again to acquire Guerrero next winter. But New York has the richest owner in sports, Steve Cohen. And there’s a chance Pete Alonso opts out of his contract and enters free agency himself. If this happens, the Mets will likely target Alonso and Guerrero as their top first baseman targets. It’s a possibility that the Mets could end up as one of the top suitors in the Guerrero sweepstakes next winter, but it’s unlikely they’ll spend $600 million to land him. It wouldn’t make too much financial sense to overpay for Guerrero a year after inking Soto to the biggest deal in sports history.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. asking price with Blue Jays should kill Mets hopes
Toronto Blue Jays’ first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was able to avoid arbitration by signing a one-year, $28.5 million deal and stay north of the border. Undoubtedly at season’s end, Guerrero will test the free agent market after not being able to come to an agreement on an extension with his current club.
The Jays want to keep Guerrero in Toronto and had negotiations with the All-Star slugger before the start of spring. After coming of a season that included a .323 batting average to go along with 30 home runs and 103 RBIs, Guerrero knows what he is worth. Guerrero disclosed the details of the final extension offer from Toronto, indicating that most teams will not be able to afford him, including the New York Mets.
