Mets Facing Major Decision After $500 Million Vladimir Guerrero Jr. News
Toronto Blue Jays infielder Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is entering his seventh MLB season. A four-time All-Star, Guerrero is one of baseball’s best young hitters. Finishing sixth in American League MVP voting last season, the right-handed slugger posted a 166 OPS+ and drove in 103 runs.
Still just 25 years old, Guerrero was looking for a lucrative extension from the Blue Jays this offseason. After a deal was not found by his self-imposed deadline in February, the Canada native told reporters the Blue Jays never came close to offering his desired contract (via ESPN’s Jeff Passan). In the weeks since Guerrero’s extension deadline passed, news has surfaced about the breakdown in talks between he and the Blue Jays.
Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) © Brett Davis-Imagn Images © Brett Davis-Imagn Images Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported on Tuesday that the Blue Jays offered Guerrero “about $500 million” with significant deferrals. “The Toronto Blue Jays offered superstar first baseman Vlad Guerrero Jr.
a deal for about $500 million before negotiations were halted last month – although significant deferrals put an estimate of the actual net present value of the offer between $400M and $450M, league sources familiar with the negotiation tell The Post,” Heyman and Sherman wrote. https://t.co/xdVkr8CswV.
Post Exclusive: Jays’ offer to Vlad Jr. was for about $500M but significant deferrals devalued its worth to between $400M and $450M (more details, background in here) — Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 12, 2025 It was also reported on Tuesday by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic that Guerrero is seeking $500 million in present value, not in deferrals.
If the Blue Jays are unwilling to offer a contract of this size when Guerrero enters 2025 free agency, what team will? Two seemingly obvious candidates are in New York, but a new report from Heyman provided some insight on this. “Despite the speculation and the Mets’ well-stocked cash drawer, folks don’t believe they’d be the one to pay that,” Heyman wrote on Thursday. “People around the game don’t see Mets honcho David Stearns spending that much money on a slugging first baseman – even a young one.”
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When paired with the possibility of Pete Alonso opting out after this season, Guerrero’s impending free agency leaves the Mets facing a major decision.
After signing Juan Soto to the largest deal in MLB history, does Mets owner Steve Cohen hand out another historic deal next offseason? Because the $500 million Guerrero is reportedly seeking would make him the highest-paid first baseman in league history.
A decision of this magnitude is one New York’s braintrust must mull over between now and 2025 free agency.
