The Toronto Blue Jays are walking on thin ice! They have to make a franchise-defining decision to make and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Not one but two of their cornerstones, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette, are set to hit free agency. Vlad had given them a set time to come to a conclusion for an extension, but no common ground could be found. The issue? Money of course. Now they are slowly inching towards the mistakes Washington National did during the Juan Soto era!
Just like the Blue Jays, the Nationals too had a dream team—with a general player amidst them—Juan Soto. They were banking on him to build the team around. But to their shock, he rejected a 15-year, $440 million contract. In hindsight, it was great for him; he got $760+ million with the New York Mets now. But for the Nationals, it was a bitter pill to swallow then,
But they didn’t cling on or wollow. They made a bold decision to trade off their player to the San Diego Padres. They got in return a pool of talented young players like C.J. Abrams, MacKenzie Gore, and James Wood. painful departure, but needed. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays are not taking any proactive steps. And that’s where, according to Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi, the danger lies.
Shi Davidi didn’t really mince words about the sheer risk that the Toronto Blue Jays are taking. “Holding the asset to expiry rather than reallocating is also the path the Blue Jays are currently following with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette this season, although that could still change depending on how 2025 plays out.” said Davidi. Simply put, Toronto is planning to bet big still. They are still holding on to hope, but if things go sideways, they could end up empty-handed.
Nationals, for example, did learn from their mistake. They held on to Bryce Harper and Anthony Rendon. But what happened? They walked away, and they got nothing. They sure did win a World Series, but after that, they were left in a mess. The Toronto Blue Jays simply cannot afford this. More so, because they have two cornerstones to lose.
The Toronto Blue Jays are hoping that Anthony Santander, Andres Gimenez, and Jeff Hoffman will carry on in case Vladimir Guerrero Jr or Bo Bichette leave. But that’s a risk. What if they are not the players they expect? Or what if they are jury-prone? Now they have two choices: pay the players in question a hefty contract or risk losing them for nothing. For now, the Jays CEO is making a passionate plea.
Mark Shapiro makes a plea for Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
There is one person who is determined to get back Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and that’s Blue Jays CEO Mark Shapiro. In the last effort to keep Vlad in Toronto, he made a pitch in the Ryan Ripken Show. “A bond with you and me is that my dad, your dad (Cal Ripken Jr.). My dad had your dad, had Kirby Puckett and Brooks Robinson. Those are three guys that spent their entire careers in one place and recognize what it can mean to be a legacy player.”
Sep 7, 2021; Bronx, New York, USA; Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) reacts after losing his bat on a swing against the New York Yankees during the seventh inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports
Shapiro emphasized it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that Guerrero has. A chance not to be a baseball star—but the star that really defines Canadian baseball. “Vladdy has a chance to make an indelible footprint in the history of Canadian sports and would be the greatest position player in the history of the Blue Jays if he stays here… I defer to optimism because Vladdy wants to stay here, and we want to keep him here.” Of course, to really convince Vladdy, Shapiro needs to spend cold hard cash.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. meanwhile has already set a number in his head. And it is $700 million if he has a good season and $500 million if he doesn’t perform so well. Right now he started good, batting . 217 through four games. But it remains to see if he has a monster season. And if he does— he might just get that number he is looking for.
Do you think the Blue Jays will end up clinching Vladimir Guerrero Jr.? Let us know your thoughts.
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