The Toronto Blue Jays are facing a critical offseason and don’t have much to show for it at this point.The team did swing a surprising blockbuster trade to add star infielder Andrés Giménez from the Cleveland Guardians and it has made some other peripheral additions. But it failed to entice superstar Juan Soto this winter, just as it fell short on Shohei Ohtani before the 2024 season.
And without a star addition and a strong 2025 campaign, the Blue Jays might not be able to convince homegrown superstar Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to extend or re-sign in Toronto. He is entering his final year of contract arbitration eligibility and a new report from USA Today’s Bob Nightengale suggests he is considering moving on to an American League East division rival.
“If Guerrero doesn’t receive an extension by spring training, he’ll test free agency, and likely will be wearing a Red Sox uniform in 2026,” per Nightengale. “If Guerrero doesn’t return to the Blue Jays, he would love to be with the Red Sox, friends say, which may be why the Red Sox are hesitant in their pursuit of (Alex) Bregman.”
The 25-year-old Guerrero has been one of the most productive players in baseball since joining the Blue Jays, with four All-Star appearances, two Silver Slugger Awards and a Gold Glove Award in the past four seasons. In 2024, he slashed .323/.396/.544 with 30 homers.
As a result, he’s likely to earn one of the largest contracts in baseball history for 2026 and beyond. And while the Blue Jays would surely like to keep their homegrown franchise talent, the cost of doing so might be prohibitive.
“Guerrero and the Blue Jays are at least $100 million apart, with Guerrero seeking at least $450 million,” Nightengale added.
If the two sides cannot reach a compromise, a fit between Guerrero and the Red Sox could make sense. The team might be searching for a generational talent to pair with Rafael Devers and Guerrero could take over first base duties in Boston while Devers sticks at third base.
Of course, it would be tough for Blue Jays fans to watch as Guerrero dons a rival’s uniform in that scenario. And there is still time for the Blue Jays to add another premier player and re-sign their homegrown superstar. But as the options for an impact addition this winter dwindle, the team is running out of time to build its future.
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