Could Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Be a Yankee? It sure is a possibility. Vladdy is going to be the next Juan Soto of free agency next year and many teams are seen as a possible landing spot o for him. The Mets have already shown interest and with their deep pockets, it’s a real possibility. Guerrero Jr. Has set a deadline of February 17th for the Blue Jays to sign an extension with him.
If that doesn’t happen, we are to witness another Jaun Soto type of deal in the coming year. In 159 games last season, Guerrero, who made his debut in 2019, recorded a.323/.396/.544 slash line. He has amassed 21.5 bWAR over the course of six years, and since 2020, he hasn’t missed more than six games in a season.
MLB insiders add a surprising team to the mix
In a recent episode of ESPN’s baseball Tonight, Buster Olney and Paul Hembekides discuss Vladimir Guerrero Jr. ‘s situation. Hembo thinks that it will the Yankees who will snatch Vladdy away in free agency. While Hembo thinks it will be the pinstripes, Olney has another team in mind, and that is the Mets. Won’t it be so much fun to watch Juan Soto and Vladdy Jr. Going back to back? Sure, it will be but it’s a long shot.
While the Blue Jays fans will be disheartened to hear these two insiders casually naming other teams as a possible landing spot, they can’t deny the fact he will most likely hit free agency. Hembo’s choice of the Yankees was certainly an interesting one considering what Vladdy thinks of the team. In an interview with Spanish baseball writer Hector Gomez, Vladdy said, “I like to play in New York. I like to kill the Yankees. I would never sign with the Yankees, not even dead.” Has that feeling changed since then? We do not know, but the Yanks will surely try to add a proven bat like him in their roster.
What If Vladimir Guerrero Jr. decides to bypass free agency?
The 26-year-old phenom, just entering his prime, is expected to command well over $400 million, easily surpassing $30 million per year. The question isn’t whether the Jays have the funds (they do—after all, they made a serious run at Juan Soto with a $700 million offer), but whether they’re willing to take on the kind of long-term financial commitment that comes with locking up a superstar like Guerrero for the foreseeable future.
The Blue Jays have already made substantial investments in this offseason, adding players like Andrés Giménez, Anthony Santander, and Max Scherzer, which has pushed their luxury tax number up to around $273 million—just $28 million below the highest threshold of $301 million. That puts them in a precarious position, especially when the penalties for surpassing that number are steep. While the team has traditionally avoided crossing the line, Guerrero Jr.’s potential extension could force them to reconsider.
The challenge for the Blue Jays is more than just money; it’s about providing Guerrero Jr. with the kind of roster that will make him feel confident in his future with the team. The Blue Jays’ window for contention is now, but if they can’t surround their star with the necessary talent, it’s hard to see him committing to a long-term deal without assurances of sustained success. If the Jays want to keep pace with the top-tier teams, they’ll likely need to land another marquee player like Bregman—and with the financial limits they’re operating under, the math just doesn’t add up easily. For the Rogers family, it could be a difficult decision: go all in on Guerrero and the future, or stay conservative and risk falling behind the competition in the AL East.
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